UW-WHITEWATER HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2026
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Dana Thompson Askey was a standout member of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's basketball and track and field programs from 2006-11.
In track and field, Askey excelled as one of the nation's top discus throwers. After claiming the WIAC title in the event in 2007, Askey went on to secure the NCAA Division III title in the discus in 2008. With a mark of 161-8 – ranked second in the program record book at the time, she became the second Warhawk to win a national title in the discus. Askey secured a second All-America honor with a fifth-place national finish in 2011.
On the basketball court, she helped lead the Warhawks to four NCAA Tournament appearances, including a third-place national finish in 2008. Bolstered by her stellar play inside, UWW won WIAC titles in 2008 and 2010. A 2011 WBCA Honorable Mention All-American, she also earned D3hoops.com All-Region and All-WIAC honors that season. Askey played 121 games, the third-most in WIAC history, and remains the UW-Whitewater career leader in field goal percentage (.578) and free throws attempted (640). She also ranks among the program's all-time leaders in points, rebounds, blocks, free throws, and games played, while standing among the conference leaders in free throws made and attempted.
She earned a degree in Health and Human Performance in 2011. |
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Brian Butzler's collegiate journey was marked not only by athletic excellence as a member of the Warhawk cross country and track and field programs from 2005-08 and 2010-11, but also by extraordinary service and dedication. An active member of the United States military, Butzler paused his collegiate career to serve his country during a deployment to Afghanistan from 2008-10 before returning to continue his success as a Warhawk student-athlete.
Over the course of his career, Butzler earned All-America honors seven times and claimed the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title five times. In 2007, Butzler secured All-America honors in cross country after finishing 20th at the NCAA Division III Championship. He finished among the top five at a NCAA Regional meet twice and earned First Team All-WIAC accolades in 2007.
Butzler was a two-time national runner-up (2007-mile; 2011-5000), four-time All-American and four-time WIAC champion in indoor track. He was named the WIAC Performer of the Meet after claiming the league title in the mile and 3000 at the 2007 championship. In outdoor track, Butzler added a pair of All-America honors in addition to the league title in the 5000 in 2011.
His impact on the track remains evident throughout the Warhawk record book. Butzler still holds the school record in the indoor mile with a time of 4:08.73. During his career, Butzler set program records in the indoor 1000 and 4x400 relay, as well as the outdoor 4x800 and distance medley relays. He ranks among the program's all-time top performers in the indoor 800, 3000, 5000, and distance medley relay, as well as the outdoor 1500, 5000, and 10,000 meters.
Butzler earned a degree in Elementary Education in 2012. |
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Karla Eggerson established herself as one of the most accomplished sprinters in University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference history during her track and field career from 1992-95. A two-time national champion, nine-time All-American, and eight-time WIAC champion, Eggerson consistently competed among the nation's elite and helped elevate the Warhawk program to national prominence.
Dominating the indoor season, Eggerson was the fastest woman in Division III for two seasons, capturing NCAA Division III titles in the 55-meter dash in both 1994 and 1995. She also claimed consecutive WIAC championships in the event and added All-America honors as a member of the 4x100-meter relay that finished seventh nationally in 1994.
Outdoors, Eggerson earned six All-America awards, highlighted by national runner-up finishes in both the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes in 1995. She also secured a third-place finish in the 100 meters in 1994 and placed fifth nationally in 1993. As a member of the Warhawks' 4x100 relay team, she contributed to fifth- and seventh-place national finishes in 1994 and 1993, respectively.
Her remarkable speed remains etched in the record books, with top ten times in the 55 and 200 indoors, as well as the 100 and 200 outdoors. |
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Emily Gerber-Kluck is the most accomplished player in UW-Whitewater women's soccer history. A member of the program from 2008-11, she helped lead the Warhawks to back-to-back WIAC championships in 2010 and 2011 and guided the team to its first NCAA Sweet 16 appearance in 2011. That historic season also saw her become the first All-American in program history.
A three-time WIAC Player of the Year (2009, 2010, 2011), Gerber-Kluck garnered both First Team All-Region and All-Conference honors each of those seasons. Her impact on the conference was so significant that she was later named to the WIAC All-Time Team as part of the conference's centennial celebration.
A prolific scorer and playmaker, Gerber-Kluck set numerous program records while rewriting the Warhawk record book. She established school records for goals in a game (4), assists in a game (3), season goals (24), and season points (49). During her career, she broke the program records for career goals (55) and career points (133), marks that still rank second all-time. She also remains among the program leaders in assists and scoring while holding conference top-15 single-season marks in both goals and points.
Gerber-Kluck earned a degree in Biology in 2011.
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Ron Haidinger was a four-time letterwinner and fierce competitor on the mat, he played a pivotal role in the success and growth of the Warhawk wrestling program. He also contributed to the Warhawk football program as a running back during the 1973 campaign.
Wrestling at 167 pounds throughout the season and competing at 158 pounds in most major tournaments, Haidinger emerged as one of the top wrestlers in the Wisconsin State University Conference and on the national stage. He captured conference championships in both 1975 and 1976 and capped his collegiate career with an outstanding runner-up finish at the 1976 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Championships after placing fourth the previous season and sixth in his sophomore season.
During the 1974-75 campaign, he set program records for wins in a season with 39 and pins in a season with 13. His mark for wins in a season still ranks among the top five in program history. At the conclusion of his career, his 59 takedowns during the 1975-76 season ranked second in school history.
Haidinger earned a degree in general business in 1976. |
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Aubrey Lewis-Byers ranks among the greatest players in UW-Whitewater men's basketball history. From 1999-03, the dynamic forward played a pivotal role in guiding UW-Whitewater to Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships in 2001 and 2002 while establishing himself as one of the most dominant players in the league.
The only four-time First Team All-WIAC selection in program history, Lewis-Byers went on to earn All-Region accolades from the National Association of Basketball Coaches three times (2001, 2002, 2003) and D3hoops.com in 2003, as well as All-America recognition from Street & Smith's in 2003. He was named to the WIAC All-Time Team for men's basketball as part of the league's Centennial Celebration in 2012.
A prolific scorer, Lewis-Byers finished his career as the second-leading scorer in program history with 1,958 points and ranks second in career field goals made. He still owns UW-Whitewater and WIAC records for free throws attempted and made, converting an astounding 598 free throws. Lewis-Byers also ranks among the top ten in program history in blocked shots (62), points per game (18.5), steals (108) and field goal percentage (.554). |
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Jessica Stang Markgraf established herself as one of the most dominant pitchers in University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and WIAC softball history during her career from 2007-11. A powerful left-handed ace, she helped lead the Warhawks to a national runner-up finish as a freshman, three NCAA Tournament appearances, and consecutive WIAC championships in 2008 and 2009.
A two-time First Team All-American (2009, 2011), three-time All-Region selection, four-time All-WIAC honoree, and two-time WIAC Pitcher of the Year, Markgraf was named to the WIAC All-Time Team in 2012.
Over 674.2 career innings, she struck out 743 batters—averaging more than one strikeout per inning—while compiling a remarkable 75-24 record and a 1.23 earned run average. She remains the WIAC career record holder in shutouts (31) and complete games (84) and ranks second in conference history in victories and strikeouts.
Markgraf rewrote the UW-Whitewater record book during her career. She holds five of the top ten marks for strikeouts in a game including the program record of 16. Markgraf also entered the record book all four seasons in innings pitched and strikeouts breaking the program records in both categories. She is ranked among the top three in UWW history in every career pitching category and holds the program record in innings pitched, win-loss, complete games and strikeouts.
Markgraf earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting in 2011. |
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Caitlin Hogan Perry is one of the premier players in Warhawk volleyball history. A key contributor to four NCAA Tournament appearances during her career from 2007-10, Hogan Perry played an instrumental role in the Warhawks' success, including helping to lead UW-Whitewater to the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament title in 2009.
The dynamic right side hitter earned All-America honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association twice including First Team recognition in 2010. That same season she was named the WIAC Player of the Year and the recipient of the league's Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete Award. Hogan Perry garnered First Team AVCA All-Region honors in 2009 and 2010 and First Team All-WIAC accolades three consecutive seasons from 2008-10.
Hogan Perry broke the program record for kills in a season in 2010, hammering down 408 – a mark that currently ranks fifth in program history. Her 65 aces in 2009 ranks fourth in the UWW record book. In the career record book, Hogan Perry holds top 20 marks in kills (1,097), attack attempts (2,778) and aces (152). Her 59 matches with double figure kills is tied for twelfth in the program record book.
Hogan Perry earned a degree in Journalism in 2010. |
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AJ Raebel was a standout linebacker on the UW-Whitewater football team from 2004-07. He helped transform the Warhawks into a national powerhouse, contributing to national runner-up finishes in 2005 and 2006 before helping lead the program to its first NCAA Division III National Championship in 2007. During his career, UW-Whitewater also captured three consecutive Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships from 2005-07.
Raebel earned First Team All-WIAC honors in each of his final three seasons. He was recognized among the nation's elite defensive players with D3football.com All-America honors in both 2006 and 2007. His impact on the conference was further cemented when he was selected to the WIAC All-Time Team as part of the league's Centennial Celebration in 2012.
Raebel's dominance is reflected throughout both the UW-Whitewater and WIAC record books. He remains the Warhawks' career leader in total tackles (359) and solo tackles (193) and ranks among the program's leaders in assisted tackles (166). At the conference level, he stands among the all-time leaders in both tackles and tackles for loss (52) holding top six marks in both categories.
Raebel earned a degree in mathematics in 2009.
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Travis Van Zile is regarded as one of the top outfielders in UW-Whitewater baseball history. During his career from 2000-03, Van Zile helped lead UW-Whitewater to Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships in 2000, 2001, and 2003, as well as the conference tournament title in 2003. He also contributed to three NCAA Tournament appearances during his career.
A three-time All-Region honoree, Van Zile consistently ranked among the top players in the conference and the Midwest. At the conclusion of his illustrious collegiate career, Van Zile was just the third Warhawk in program history to earn First Team All-WIAC honors all four seasons.
Van Zile's name remains prominent throughout both the UW-Whitewater and WIAC record books. He holds the program record for triples in a game with two and ranks among the school's all-time leaders in stolen bases (66) and triples (10). His eight triples in 2003 remain one of the top single-season totals in both school and conference history. Following his stellar collegiate career, Van Zile was selected in the 26th round of the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Van Zile earned a degree in Marketing in 2003. |
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Frank Barnes is one of the most decorated coaches in the history of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and UW-Whitewater. Barnes grew the men's and women's teams into a model of consistency and competitiveness accumulating more than 800 career wins over the course of 23 seasons at the helm of the Warhawk Tennis program. From 2010 through the 2025 campaign, the UWW men's program was unbeaten in league play. On the women's side, Barnes led the Warhawks to a streak of 130 consecutive victories against WIAC opponents leading to a streak of 18 straight league titles.
On the national scene, Barnes guided the Warhawk women to qualification and participation in the NCAA Division III Team Championship 17 seasons while the men made the national tournament 16 times from 2007-25. The Warhawks went on to advance to the Sweet 16 eleven times in that span. Over the course of his career, Barnes coached more than 45 individual national qualifiers, 33 All-Americans, 11 Academic All-Americans, 12 WIAC Judy Kruckman Scholar Athletes and 76 Chancellor Scholar Athletes. Barnes was named the ITA National Coach of the Year in 2023-24 and was the Professional Tennis Registry National College Coach of the Year, across all divisions, in 2010. He has earned regional and conference coaching accolades 17 times and was selected as the Women's Tennis Coach on the WIAC's All-Time Team in 2012.
Barnes' legacy goes well beyond the court. He has been lauded for his commitment to the sport of tennis and engagement in the community. Barnes has received multiple honors for outreach and has served on numerous committees. Additionally, Barnes created and continues to help maintain one of the top tennis camps and clinics in the nation, welcoming more than 700 youth tennis players to campus each summer. |
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Ken Dahnert has exemplified the spirit of service, generosity, and community partnership through more than 25 years of unwavering support for Warhawk Athletics. As the owner of Rocky Rococo's in Whitewater, Dahnert has become a trusted friend and dedicated advocate for countless UW-Whitewater student-athletes, coaches, and programs.
His impact extends far beyond financial contributions. Dahnert regularly provided team meals during academic breaks, sponsored hospitality rooms throughout the year, and worked closely with coaches to ensure camps and clinics were well supported with food and resources. His commitment to the success of Warhawk Athletics has been evident in every aspect of his involvement.
A steadfast supporter of the annual Warhawk Auction & Raffle, Dahnert has consistently been one of the event's leading donors and supporters, helping generate critical resources that benefit student-athletes across multiple sports. He has also provided employment opportunities to numerous UW-Whitewater students and student-athletes, offering valuable work experience while supporting their educational pursuits.
Known for his generosity and hospitality, Dahnert routinely went above and beyond to assist visiting teams and guests, helping create a welcoming experience for all who came to Whitewater. His selfless dedication, loyalty, and lasting contributions have left an indelible mark on Warhawk Athletics and the university community. |
