WINONA, Minn. - Winona State University kicks off a busy week of Homecoming activities today and a marquee event of the celebration will be the induction of the 2021 Athletic Hall of Fame Class, which recognizes six former Warriors representing five WSU programs.
This year's inductees are: Rich Ernst (football), Jonte Flowers (men's basketball), Reggie Johnson (football), Amanda (Wilhelm) Kallenbach (softball), Scott Wanshura (baseball),
Ana Wurtz (women's basketball).
In August of 2020, Winona State University made the decision to move the 2020 Hall of Fame class induction ceremony to the fall of 2021. The purpose of the change was to provide the 2020 inductees the full opportunity for proper recognition in a on-campus event.
The 2021 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is scheduled for Friday, October 8 at 5pm. The ceremony will be held in Talbot Gymnasium. More information is available
at this link.
The 2021 Winona State University Athletic Hall of Fame Class
Rich Ernst, Warrior Football, 1971-75: As a quarterback, Rich Ernst threw for 43 career touchdown passes, ranking him sixth all-time among Warrior signal callers. Ernst earned All-Conference accolades in 1974 and sits in the Winona State Top-20 in career total offense. Over his four years, Ernst completed 319 of his 619 attempts, good for 4657 yards, and ran for an additional 542, topping out his career total yardage mark over 5,000. In 1974, Ernst threw for 18 touchdowns in his junior season, currently good for 14th all-time in that category. During the 1974 season, Ernst earned Associated Press Honorable Mention All-America honors for his performance at Winona State University.
Jonte Flowers, Warrior Men's Basketball, 2004-08: Jonte Flowers was one of the best NCAA Division II players on some of the best NCAA Division II basketball teams ever to take the floor. Flowers struck fear in the hearts of opposing guards, racking up 414 career steals, which still stands as the NCAA Division II record and is second all-time across all three NCAA levels. On offense, Flowers was equally effective over his four years at WSU, scoring 1,882 points - fourth all-time - while collecting nine different All-America awards, most notably a 2008 Daktronics First Team All-America honor. Flowers earned the NSIC Defensive Player-of-the-Year awards in each of his four Warrior seasons, standing as the only four-time Player-of-Year selection in any NSIC basketball award category. Flowers becomes a two-time Winona State Hall of Fame inductee after he was also admitted in 2018 as a key member of "The Run" which included the Warriors' 2006-08 teams
Reggie Johnson, Warrior Football, 1981-83: Reggie Johnson helped lead his 1983 Winona State teammates to the NIC football regular season title and his leadership on and off the field were key components in the Warriors success during his career. Lining up as a durable running back for Winona State, Johnson ranks 10th in career rushing attempts (376) for Winona State and his 1983 total single season carry tally of 182 rushes is 15th all-time. Over his four years, Johnson amassed 1,551 rushing yards, currently 18th in Warrior history. He also returned punts, sitting fifth all-time with 49. Johnson earned the Glen Galligan award in 1983 as well as All-Conference and All-District honors. Off the field, Johnson was the vice-president of the WSU student senate, president of the Black Cultural Awareness student club and a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Johnson also currently serves on the WSU Foundation Board.
Amanda (Wilhelm) Kallenbach, Warrior Softball, 2006-09: Amanda (Wilhelm) Kallenbach was a key component on some of the best Warrior softball teams in the history of the program. Kallenbach helped her team reach the 2009 NCAA Division II World Series and earn NSIC Tournament Championships in back-to-back fashion in 2008 and 2009. Kallenbach also led the 2007 squad to the NSIC regular season championship. Individually, Kallenbach was a NFCA First Team All-America selection in 2009, as well as earning a spot on the NCAA Division II World Series All-Tournament that same year. The three-time All-NSIC selection compiled a career batting average of .358, hit 26 home runs and had 130 RBI's along with 244 career hits. In 221 games played, Kallenbach hit 49 doubles; each previously mentioned mark currently ranks in the Warrior softball top-10 in the respective category. A four-year letter winner, Kallenbach's best season performance occurred during her senior campaign, when she hit for a .421 average, with 14 home runs, 91 total hits and 22 doubles.
Scott Wanshura, Warrior Baseball, 1987-89: Scott Wanshura played three seasons for Winona State after transferring to WSU from Grandview College and left his mark as one of the best hitters in Warrior history. He was dominant at the plate over that time, with several impressive career marks, hitting .431, including 33 home runs and driving in 162 RBI's. His .431 lifetime average, 56 career doubles and 26 game hitting streak all rank No. 1 in WSU baseball history. Wanshura earned First Team All-America honors in 1988 and Second Team All-America Honors in 1989. He also led the 1988 Winona State team to the NAIA World Series. Wanshura was an All-Conference and All-District performer all three years at Winona State, and a leader on Warrior teams which won three consecutive Conference championships. During his career, Wanshura collected several single-season batting accolades, including the most consecutive at-bats reaching base (18), most hits (89), and home runs in a season (20); his single season .590 batting average still stands as a conference record. Wanshura passed away on August 31, 2018, after a long battle with cancer and is inducted posthumously by the committee.
Ana Wurtz, Warrior Women's Basketball, 2007-10: Women's basketball standout
Ana Wurtz owned the territory behind the three-point line as a Warrior player; Wurtz hit 254 3-pointers in her WSU career, which is tops in that category. Overall, Wurtz scored 1,355 points, good for fourth all-time in the Winona State record book. In the 2008-09 campaign, Wurtz led WSU to its first-ever NCAA Division II tournament appearance in women's basketball. Her leadership and ability did not go unnoticed, as Wurtz was selected to the All-Region team that year and was later tabbed as the Winona State Female Athlete of the Year. Upon completion of her playing career, Wurtz stayed on with WSU as a graduate assistant coach, earning her master's degree in Sport Management. Prior to the 2018-19 season, she was elevated to associate head coach after serving as an assistant since 2013.
The Winona State University Athletics Hall of Fame is in the Integrated Wellness Complex. The Hall of Fame features digital and displayed honors of impactful Warrior student-athletes, teams, administrators, and community members. For more on the WSU Hall-of-Fame,
please use this link.
For the most up to date news in Warrior Athletics, please visit:
www.WINONASTATEWARRIORS.com and
@WinonaStateATH.
About Winona State University Athletics:
The Winona State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, as an integral part of the educational mission of the institution, is committed to offering opportunities to experience academic and athletic excellence for our student-athletes through two simple words:
Graduate Champions.
Fourteen Warrior programs compete at the NCAA Division II level within the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). Winona State University competes as an affiliate member of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in the sport of women's gymnastics.
