File

Brookfield Central
Athletic Hall of Fame
2014
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Sponsored By:
Brookfield Central Athletic Booster Club
May 17, 2014
Westmoor Country Club
Brookfield, WI
Agenda
6:00-7:30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cocktail Hour, Silent Auction
7:30-8:30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dinner
8:30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Program, Induction of Honorees
Invocation
David Berka
Master of Ceremonies
R. J. Ley
Keynote Address
David Berka
2013 Hall of Fame Inductee
Senior Athletes of the Year
BCABC Special Recognition of BCHS Senior Athletes –
Elizabeth Flatley and Riley LaChance
2014 Inductees
Margaret Calvert, 1985
Charlie Jack, 1966
Scott Kreitmeier, 1989
Robert Petruska,1970
Tim Rappe, 1972
Ben Strickland, 2003
Kelly Svetz Szterniak, 1997
1
MARGARET
CALVERT
1982-1985
Margaret Calvert was a three-sport star who contributed to
multiple State Championship teams.
Margaret competed in softball for three years, playing for
HOF coach Bill Graf and earning All Conference Honorable
Mention in 1983, Second Team All Conference and Team MVP
in 1984, and First Team All Conference and Team MVP again
in 1985.
On the tennis courts, playing for HOF Coach Dave Steinbach,
Margaret played doubles for the team which won State
Championships in both 1983 and 1984. She served as a team
captain during the 1984 season.
But, it was on the basketball court where Margaret truly
excelled. As a junior in 1983-84, she was named First Team
All Conference, First Team All Area by the Waukesha Freeman,
Honorable Mention All State and selected as the Team MVP.
The following year, Margaret led her team on an unlikely run
to capture the State Championship defeating top ranked and
undefeated South Milwaukee in the final. After her senior
season she was Team MVP, First Team All Conference, First
Team All Area and Player of the Year by the Waukesha Freeman, First Team All Area by the Milwaukee Sentinel and
Third Team All State.
She was also named Academic All State and Outstanding Female Athlete for BCHS in 1985. Outside of athletics,
Margaret served as the Yearbook Sports co-Editor and was a member of both Key Club and the National Honor
Society.
Following graduation, Margaret attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and there, she participated in a
completely new sport: the UW- Madison women’s rowing team. She earned her Varsity letter and Academic All
Big Ten honors in 1987. She rowed in eights that placed Second at the Head of the Charles, Third at the Eastern
Women’s Sprints and were the Champions of the Midwest Rowing Championships..
Margaret resides in the Portland, Oregon with her three sons Henry, Theodore and Oscar, and is Principal of
Jefferson High School.
2
Personal Statement
My interest in sports was sparked by my Auntie Do. To me as a young child she seemed to have an irrepressible
spirit, constantly exploring the world around her and full of positive energy. She was always moving, running and
doing yoga daily, playing tennis during the summer and curling in the winter. Her son, my cousin Kevin, shared
with me the love of basketball and a playful competitive spirit. I have cherished these gifts throughout my life.
The fields of Brookfield Elementary and the courts of Wisconsin Hills Junior High provided refuge and solace after
my father passed away. I am forever thankful to all of the coaches who encouraged me to focus my attention and
effort on athletic pursuits. I learned the value of resilience, persistence, and being a part of something bigger
than yourself.
Our driveway became my training ground – where I spent countless hours shooting baskets and hitting tennis
balls against the garage door. Summers found my sister Jill and I rushing from the dinner table to play tennis. On
the courts behind Central we worked out problems, shared our hopes and fears, and laughed deeply. I am sure
that if we lived in the same city we would still be hustling from the table to make time for our evening hitting
sessions.
By the time I entered Central as a sophomore in 1982, sports were integral to my life. I was fortunate to letter in
tennis, basketball, and softball. I played for three Hall of Fame Coaches: Dave Steinbach in tennis, Paul Naumann
in basketball, and Bill Graf in softball. Each team offered a different set of challenges mentally and physically. I
remain a staunch advocate for athletes to participate in multiple sports – specializing too young leaves many
parts of a student-athlete underdeveloped. I was able to apply lessons from one sport to another and developed
greater kinesthetic awareness.
My strongest memory is of the intense rivalries that we had with Brookfield East and Nicolet. The success of a
season was often measured by how we competed against these teams. I was lucky enough to play on three state
championship teams. I have only come to appreciate how rare that was over time. The teams had wonderful
athletes like Nancy Tyggum, Kristen Hess, the Vanlankvelt sisters, and my doubles partner Julie Jurczyk in tennis.
On the basketball court, Lori Hughes, Katie Nelson, Glenda Skalitzky, and Tiffany Balthazor made a formidable
group of seniors. Nancy Tyggum, Monica Lavin and I were a tenacious backcourt.
The highlight of my high school career has to be our run to the state championship in basketball in 1985. We
finished fourth in conference play, losing the conference championship to East and then went on a tremendous
winning streak. We won our first playoff game in double overtime after being down by 5 points with 21 seconds
left in the game. We then followed that by beating rival and heavy favorite Brookfield East by one on our home
floor. We played the underdog the rest of the way marching through a series of conference champions and
ultimately won the title game against number one ranked and undefeated South Milwaukee. It was a Cinderella
run marked by tremendous teamwork, toughness and determination.
Athletics have had a profound impact on my life. In college while rowing at the University of Wisconsin, sports
again provided solace and refuge after my mother passed away. I found peace on the water and the support from
teammates and coaches helped me move through the grief. I knew then that I had to give back to the community
and started coaching basketball while still in college. Although I no longer coach, I still have a deep sense of
service and continue to work in education. An ethic that I hope to pass along to my three sons, Henry, Theo and
Oscar.
I am honored to have been selected to the Brookfield Central Hall of Fame.
Go Lancers!
3
CHARLIE JACK
1962-1966
Records are made to be broken; however, it took nearly 50
years to break the record Charlie Jack held as the highest
scoring basketball player in BCHS history.
Charlie is another of those highly talented athletes who
competed in multiple sports as a Lancer. For the baseball
team, in one season, he pitched a total of 42 innings giving up
only 1 run, for a remarkable record ERA of .016.
However, for Charlie, basketball was his first love and where
he truly excelled. Charlie played four years of basketball under
Coach Ron Blomberg earning Varsity letters three of those
years. In the 1964-65 season, Charlie scored 42 points in the
Conference Championship game against Homestead…both
a school and conference record for most points in a single
game. He finished the year as the second leading scorer in
the Braveland Conference and established both single season
scoring AND rebounding records for BCHS with 554 points and
364 rebounds.
As a junior, Charlie started on a Lancer team that was the first
from the Braveland Conference to play in the State Tournament in Madison. The team finished fourth in the state
and won the first Sportsmanship Award. Charlie was selected First Team All Conference, First Team All County, First
Team All Tourney, Special Mention All State Tournament Team and Special Mention All State.
The following year, Dell Pre-Season Magazine rated Jack as the best returning player in Wisconsin and Charlie
lived up to the billing. Charlie was named Captain and MVP. In a rematch versus Monroe HS, the defending state
champion, Charlie established a school and Lancer gymnasium record by scoring 48 points and as school record
17 field goals. He was selected Wisconsin Player of the Week for that performance. During that season, Charlie
set a new conference single-season record for scoring with 447 points, in only 16 games; he averaged 28.1 points
and 17.7 rebounds per game, both school records. He was unanimously elected First Team All Conference and First
Team All Waukesha County and he was the FIRST BCHS athlete to be named First Team All State in any sport.
All told, Jack led his Lancer teams to a 52-8 record for his career. His career scoring record of 1,243 points was not
broken until 2013 and his career rebounding record of 817 rebounds remains today a school record.
Following graduation, Charlie attended Valparaiso University on a full basketball scholarship and graduated
Magna Cum Laude. He attended graduate school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison earning his MS degree in
Statistics.
Professionally, he was a management recruiter who established his own national search firm dedicated to
physicians and had over 600 clients. In 1989, he received the first President’s Award from the National Association
of Physician Recruiters for meritorious contributions to the industry.
In 1965, Charlie met Diane Rutlin who had transferred to BCHS from a rival school; they have been together for
over 48 years, the last 45 as husband and wife. Now retired, they reside in Las Vegas, NV.
4
Personal Statement
Even though I am now a senior citizen, I can say without much hesitation that the years spent at BCHS may have
been the most enjoyable period of my life. My participation in sports gained me a great college education that my
parents could not afford. Any success that I may have enjoyed in athletics, academics, character development and
my professional career was the result of the environment provided at BCHS.
I was fortunate that my parents’ home was not 100 feet further south or I would have attended New Berlin
High School. We had a gravel driveway and no garage. Therefore, out of necessity, my dad nailed 4 boards to a
telephone pole in the adjacent field to set up my first basketball hoop. One of our neighbors asked my mother if
I was “mentally challenged” because I would practice continually on my basketball moves even if it required my
wearing gloves and snow boots during the inclement winters of Brookfield. I practiced my pitching by throwing a
tennis ball at an inverted wheelbarrow in the same vacant field.
I was also fortunate that Coach Blomberg was my baseball coach and my basketball coach. Outside of my parents,
Coach Blomberg had the greatest positive influence on my life. I probably spent more time with Coach than any
other lancer. In addition to being my coach, he was my physical education teacher in my final two years. During
the summer of 1965, I worked as a basketball counselor for a summer camp run by Coach. I rode to work every day
with him and we spent at least 9 hours together daily for the entire summer. Since I also pitched for the Lancers’
baseball team, I often times ate dinner at Coach’s home before we had to leave for that night’s game. On those
days, we spent more than 12 hours together often times discussing things other than sports. He took great interest
in my academic progress and my social life. I give him much credit for developing my character and work ethic.
Going to BCHS in the 60’s was really like an episode out of “Happy Days”. We listened to fantastic music, had great
teachers in an environment of discipline and had tremendous school spirit. We hung out together at school dances
and met later at Marty’s Pizza. It was truly an “innocent” time when we were not concerned about crime or safety.
I remember having to hitch hike the four mile trip to Central for baseball practice in the summer. Despite not
having a car, I was never late for a single practice or game.
My mother put together a scrapbook with newspaper clippings from every baseball and basketball game that I
played. When she passed away, the scrapbook was left to me. I have shared the scrapbook with former Lancers
who have visited me in Vegas and they enjoyed reflecting upon the time when we were young athletes. I also
showed the scrapbook to my five grandchildren. They were amused at our short hair and even shorter basketball
shorts.
My years at BCHS allowed me to make friendships that have lasted 50 years .The common bond we share is the
camaraderie experienced as athletes a half century ago. Perhaps the most important event of my life occurred in
early 1965. A beautiful, young Diane Rutlin transferred to BCHS from Tosa East.
We began dating immediately and have been together for 49 years. Even though we now live 1,700 miles from
Brookfield, we still remain loyal Lancers and follow the school’s results via the Internet and local newspapers. The
foundation of my life was built at 16900 Gebhardt Road.
5
SCOTT
KREITMEIER
1986-1989
Scott Kreitmeir, in the eyes of most experts, is simply the
greatest soccer player to ever play for the Brookfield Central
Lancers! He was a two-time State Tourney MVP; a member
of the U-20 National Team; and a three-time Olympic Festival
participant and is widely regarded as THE best soccer player
to ever come from the State of Wisconsin.
A four-year letterman for the Lancers, Scott was named First
Team All Conference in both his sophomore and junior years.
As a junior in the fall of 1987, he was also named First Team
All State.
But it was in the Fall of 1988, his senior year, as he led the
Lancers to the State semi-finals, when recognition of his
greatness poured-in. He became the all-time leading scorer
in school history and his 4 goals in a game during the State
competition were a record. His honors that year included:
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First Team All Conference
First Team All State
All Midwest
All American
MVP and Gatorade State Player of the Year
After graduation, Scott attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and led the Panthers to the NCAA Tournament his freshman year. But, the call of greater soccer competition was too strong and Scott left college to pursue
a dream of playing with the best. He played soccer professionally in Munich Germany for three years, 1991-1993.
In 1994, Kreitmeir returned to Milwaukee to play for the Milwaukee Rampage and was named to the All Star team
that same year. In 1997, playing for the Milwaukee Wave, he led the team to the NPSL Championship. Later, while
playing for the Milwaukee Bavarians, he led his team to the National Championship in 2001, 2002 and 2003 and
the Open Cup National Championship in 2003.
Today, Scott is a local business owner residing in Waukesha and still remains active in soccer, working with the
youth of the community.
6
Personal Statement
I have many fond memories of my time at BCHS. I really didn’t know what to expect as a student athlete in 1984.
I immediately tried out for soccer and was placed on the JV team. I’m not going to lie, I thought I should have
made varsity but I can debate that with Coach Dorn at a later time. The season was great. I remember staying and
watching almost every Varsity game that year. Dreaming of the day that I would be playing under the lights. The
highlight of that season was Coach Dorn telling me “great game”, I thought to myself “now I’m on his radar”.
I made Varsity my sophomore year and played there for the next 3 years under Coach Dorn. Coach Richard Dorn
was wonderful, not only as a coach but a person. He was great at reading our team and knowing what we needed.
Coach Dorn taught me many things on and off the field. He also allowed my to express my talents and ideas.
Over my 3 Varsity seasons we never finished ranked lower than 4th in the State. I was able to play with some
wonderfully talented players. Unfortunately, we never won the State Championship. Looking back, not being
able to bring BCHS or Coach Dorn a State title they deserved is a big disappointment of mine.
I can honestly say I always played for the Silver and Blue of BCHS and not for myself. I won many individual honors
while at BCHS. Most of which I didn’t even know existed till after I won them. I’d like to thank Coach Dorn for
always putting me in positions to succeed. My greatest compliment/award came when my parents were looking
to move. The coach at Brookfield East at the time was Milan Vidakovich, a great coach in his own right. Somehow
Coach Vidakovich caught wind of this. He promptly got a realtor friend of his to find houses for us in the East
district so I could play for him. Needless to say this would have never happened. I bled the Blue and Silver!
I’d like to thank Jon Mroz for nominating me and everyone else who voted. I was truly blessed to be part of such a
wonderful school and soccer program. It’s an honor and a privilege to be inducted into this BCHS HOF.
GO LANCERS!!!!!!
The love of sports that grew in me during my time at BCHS is alive and well. In my adult life I love to be active. I
continue to run, and even completed a half marathon a few years ago. Being an educator, I also get to pull out
my basketball skills in faculty vs. student games each year. The kids are always shocked to see that their principal
can actually play! It is difficult to believe that I am here today, reliving high school memories from 20 years ago
that feel like they happened just yesterday. I am honored to be a member of the BCHS hall of fame and have much
to be thankful for. I am thankful that my parents gave me the opportunity to participate in athletics. Athletics
taught me a great deal about hard work, perseverance, leadership and character. I am thankful for the support
of my BCHS coaches and teammates that pushed me to be a better athlete and leader than I thought possible.
Finally, I am thankful that I have such wonderful memories from my time at BCHS that I can share with my own
children someday. Thank you for this honor.
7
COACH ROBERT
PETRUSKA
1957-1990
Coach Robert Petruska is, pure and simple, a WINNER. Consider
that in the 11 years he coached football at BCHS, his teams won
5 Braveland Conference Championships and at one point, his
teams went undefeated for 3 consecutive years! While coaching
baseball at BCHS, he won the 1969 State Championship. Then,
after leaving Brookfield Central, he coached Lake Mills’ Girls Track
Team to a State Championship in 1980.
As an athlete, Petruska attended the University of Wisconsin
and played both varsity football and basketball for the Badgers,
earning 3 letters in football and another 2 in basketball. In 1950,
he was chosen to play in the Blue-Gray All Star football game.
Following graduation, Petruska was a teacher and coach (football
and basketball) in Waupun from 1952-1955. In 1955 he moved
to Kaukauna and then in 1957 he came to Brookfield Central and
taught and coached the Lancers until 1970. He moved to Lake
Mills as Athletic Director, Football, Basketball and Track Coach.
Coach Petruska served as the President of the Wisconsin High
School Coaches Association from 1970-1974. In 1974, he was the coach of the Madison Mustangs semi-pro
football team and was named the CSFL Championship Coach of the Year. In 1978, he coached the South in the
annual high school All-Star Football Game and in 1983, Petruska was inducted into the High School Football
Coaches Hall of Fame.
For years, in honor of Coach Petruska, Brookfield Central has selected a male and female athlete and recognized
them with the Robert Petruska Athlete of the Year award. Though only with BCHS, for 13 years, Coach Petruska
left an indelible mark on the school and his memory lives on in this award.
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Personal Statement
Bob was a teacher at Brookfield Central for 13 years at a time the school was the only one in Brookfield. We were
28 years old with four children. Our oldest daughter and son graduated from Brookfield. When I asked Wendy
and Scott their memories of their dad coaching at Brookfield, Wendy talked about the Thursday nights when the
football players were teasing and laughing as they watched films from the previous football game in our family
room. She also liked cheerleading for her dad’s football teams. One of her best memories was cheering for the
Brookfield basketball team at state in the University of Wisconsin field house. Scott remembered the thrill of
being on his dad’s baseball team that won state. His senior year he played behind quarterback Bill Carollo on an
undefeated football team.
It was a lucky 13 years. There were many at that time who later became members of the Hall of Fame. Harley
Graf was the athletic director, (we had known him before as our teacher, swim instructor and Bob’s coach at Lake
Mills High School). Jack Charlesworth and Bill Graf were coaches. El Boie was the principal and Bruce Ellwanger,
Tom Waterman, and Bill Carollo were football players. Though Bob and I spent our last years teaching back at Lake
Mills, we continued keeping in touch and spending time with friends from Brookfield.
9
TIM RAPPE
1969-1972
Although Tim Rappe excelled as a Lancer athlete in three
(3) different sports earning a total of 10 Varsity letters, his
greatest success came on the cinder of the BCHS track where
Tim became the fastest man in BCHS history.
Tim played football for three years under HOF coaches
Bob Petruska and Jack Charlesworth, earning three Varsity
letters on two teams that won the Braveland Conference
Championship. As a junior, Tim was named All Conference
Honorable Mention.
In baseball, again playing for HOF coaches Petruska and
Bill Graf, Tim lettered for three years and was named All
Conference in 1972, his senior year.
On the track is where Tim truly excelled all three years of his
Varsity career. As a sophomore in 1970, at the Conference
Relays, Tim was a member of the winning 880 and mile relay
teams and at the Conference Outdoor Championships, Rappe
won both the 100 and 220 yard dash, setting conference
records in both events. Then, at the State Track Meet, Tim
finished 3rd in the 100 and 2nd in the 220.
The following year as a junior, during Conference Indoor Championships, Tim won the 65 yard dash and anchored
the mile relay team that took 1st, both in record times. In the Conference Relays, he was part of the winning
440, 880 and mile relay teams that took 1st, again all in record times. And, finally, at the Conference Outdoor
Championships, Tim won the 100, 220 and anchored the winning 880 Relay team. At the State Meet, while
leading in the 100 yard dash, Tim pulled a muscle and fell, an injury denying him a gold medal.
As a senior in 1972, again Tim won the 65 yard dash and anchored the mile relay team to victory. At the
Conference Outdoor Championships, Rappe won the 100 yard dash. Then, at the State Meet in the same event, he
took silver. His school records in both the 100 and 220 still stand today.
Following graduation, Tim accepted a track scholarship to UW-Madison where he was a 10-time place winner in
the Big Ten Championships and a 2 time place winner in the NCAA Championships. He set a World Record in the
Sprint Medley Relay in 1973 and was named a USTFF All American. While at Madison, Tim was a second round
draft pick of the World Champion Cincinnati Reds but opted to stay in school. He graduated with honors with a
degree in Journalism.
Professionally, Rappe founded and launched the NBA Radio Network. He built and ran youth training programs
for both the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Bulls from 1994-2010. And, he created both the Cincinnati Reds
Baseball Camp and the Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Academy and today serves as the Executive Director for both.
Tim is married with 5 children and two grandsons. He and his wife make their home in Warrenville, Illinois.
10
Personal Statement
I attended St. John Vianney before coming to Central. I remember a Father/Son breakfast where the late Marquette
basketball coach, Al McGuire, told us that when you get old, time passes so quickly it feels like you’re eating
breakfast every 15 minutes.
When I was 13 that was funny. At 60, not so much. Part of my brain that refuses to accept aging can’t believe that
40+ years have passed since high school. Unfortunately, the part of my brain that is being asked to recall my high
school days is taking its afternoon nap.
I was a four sport athlete and I can tell you what I DON’T remember…I don’t remember having a day off. I can
also tell you that I don’t regret that for one second. I loved being an athlete at Brookfield Central.
Actually, I did take an entire season off. My senior year I had some muscle issues and needed to get ready for my
college track career so I had to tell Coach Graf that I would not play basketball. The fact that he didn’t try to talk
me out of it was either testimony to his understanding nature or the fact that I stunk up the basketball court.
Maybe he remembered that the first basket I scored in high school was a breakaway lay up…for the other team.
I played football for fellow HOF inductee, Coach Petruska, in his final year at Central. We were a powerhouse
team and Coach Petruska was a tough but fair man. One tradition on the football team was that everyone had
mandatory buzz haircuts, which was definitely not the style in 1969. I can’t say that the short hair made a
difference but we went on to win the Braveland Conference that year and did it again under new head coach Jack
Charlesworth. As a football player, I was a really good track man.
I often wonder what would have happened had we played spring baseball. I’m sure I would have opted for
baseball and yet it was track that paid for college. Coach Zimmerman was a terrific track coach and a kind man.
We had some powerhouse track teams back then. I’m sure my memory is a bit distorted on this one but one year
we had some disciplinary matters that left us with only about 10 competitors for the conference championships.
We came within a hair of winning even though we didn’t field enough competitors for every event.
I don’t think I ran a race in my junior year without bandages holding my damaged muscles in place. Unfortunately,
one of the vivid memories I do have was the sound of my hamstring snapping in the finals of the State 100 yard
dash when I was leading at the 80 yard mark. In the same race my senior season, I broke the tape but first place
was awarded to another runner. Wisconsin high school track didn’t have photo’s at the finish line back then but
several years later Coach Zimmerman sent me a photo that clearly showed that I had won the race. Maybe it’s time
to let that one go.
But my love was baseball…always was and still is. I need Coach Graf to verify this because whenever I tell people
that we played a two man outfield in high school, I get the skeptical look that statement deserves. There is no such
thing as a routine fly ball in a two man outfield. I grew up a Brewers fan and was a draft choice of the Cincinnati
Reds. The irony is that 40 years later I work for both teams. I can only imagine how much of my success in life I owe
to my days at Brookfield Central.
11
BEN STRICKLAND
1999-2003
In this day and age of specialization, there are very few athletes like Ben
Strickland. Strickland is one of those amazing multiple-sport athletes who
excelled at three sports all four years of high school and earned 11 Varsity
letters.
In track, Ben earned a Varsity letter in all four years. Ben was an integral part
of two Greater Metro Conference Championship track seasons in 2001 and
2002 and finished three of his four seasons in La Crosse at the State Track
Meet. Ben was a part of the 4x400 relay team that captured Bronze at State
his sophomore year. His junior year, that same relay team came back to State
to improve their standing and take 2nd in the 4x400 relay along with setting
a new school record. That same season, Ben was part of the 4x200 relay team
that took 2nd at State. His senior year was capped off by another medal at
State in the 4x400 relay, taking 3rd and contributing to a BCHS Boys Track
Team that took 2nd in State.
In basketball, Ben was a three year Varsity letter winner, earning AllConference Honorable Mention both sophomore and junior years and Honorable Mention All-Area his senior year.
Ben was a part of a basketball program that won back-to-back Greater Metro Conference Championships and
went to the State Championships in Madison all three years. Ben was a Team Captain as a senior and finished his
career 10th in All-Time Assists with 170.
But, in football…that’s where Ben truly excelled. As a rare, four year varsity letter winner in football, Ben was
able to start his career on a team that won the Greater Metro Conference Championship and was State Runner-up
in 1999. As a sophomore, he was named 2nd Team All-Conference as a Running Back and was voted Honorable
Mention to the All-Area team. As a junior, Ben was named 1st Team All-Conference at Defensive Back and 2nd
Team All-Conference as Running Back. As a Team Captain, Ben’s senior season he was able to a mass 2,105
yards rushing, 253 yards receiving, 27 Total TD’s, accounted for 179 points and had 3 INT’s. For his efforts, he
was recognized as the Greater Metro Conference Back of the Year, 1st Team All-Conference Defensive Back, was
selected to the All-Area 1st Team, named the CNI Newspaper’s Suburban Player of the Year. He was also named
1st Team All-State and proudly played in the WFCA All-Star Shrine Game in 2003. Ben was part of a team that
senior year that won the Greater Metro Conference Championship and his last high school game was played at
Camp Randall stadium where the football program finished its season as the State Runner-Up.
Ben’s last game of high school football was on the same field as his first collegiate game, as Ben took his talents
to the University of Wisconsin as a walk on to the football program. At Wisconsin, Strickland earned a scholarship
after just his first season of eligibility and went on to be a four year varsity letter winner, a 4-time Academic All
Big Ten selection and a Team Captain in 2007, his senior season. Strickland played in 51 games and was part of a
senior class that still remains the winningest class in school history with 40 wins. Ben was also part of the 2006
team, which, along with close friend and fellow Hall of Famer, Joe Thomas, led the Badgers to a school record
12 wins in 2006. Ben was a part of two Outback Bowl Appearances (2005, 2008) and Two Capital One Bowl
Championships (2006, 2007).
His love of football and passion for teaching serve him well today as Ben is the Defensive Backs Coach for the
Badgers. He has been a part of Three Big Ten Championship Teams (2010, 2011, 2012) and Three Rose Bowl
Appearances (2011, 2012, 2013). Ben and his wife, Laura, live in Madison and are expecting their first child in
June.
12
Personal Statement
As I look back on my years at Brookfield Central, I can appreciate the journey that I’ve taken, how those years
helped shape my life, and most importantly the relationships and memories made along the way. My athletic
experience at Brookfield Central was one that I know not many get the opportunity to be a part of. I was
surrounded by great teammates, great coaches, and blessed to live out some great moments.
I know that for me, everything has always been made possible because of the unconditional love and sacrifice
of my family and friends, most specifically my parents. Now, as I am becoming a father of my own, am I truly
starting to realize everything that my parents have done for me in my life to allow me to live the life intended
for me. Their love, support and guidance has been the cornerstone of my ability to pursue my dreams and goals. I
don’t think I can ever thank them enough for all that they have done for me.
As I think about my time at BC, I think about the people that were such an important part of that time in my life
and continue to be to this day. I remember Darryl Schnell’s laugh, DJ Mayfield’s ability to make anyone smile, and
Luke Homan being like the brother I never had. Although these three were taken too soon, I know how blessed I
was to have them in my life and the countless lasting memories that we shared I will always carry with me. All of
my teammates made an impression on me for their unique talents and abilities but we had successful teams and
built lasting bonds because we genuinely cared for one another and it was important for us to not let the person
next to us down.
I remember doing Bear Crawls up the hill next to the practice field to the sound of Coach Meuleman’s screechy,
adolescent boy-like voice when we paid the price for not giving it our all in practice. I remember Coach Adam’s
shoe stomp and paper slap from the bench when we didn’t run the flex offense for a lay up. More than that
though, I remember Coach Meuleman’s for his passion for the game and his genuine care for his players and
Coach Adam’s for the detail of which he prepared our teams and the teachable moments he found to instill the
lessons he wanted us to learn. These were just two of the many impactful coaches I had that led me to pursue a
career in coaching so that I can leave the same legacy of love and passion for the game that they imparted to me.
I also think about all the fond memories that I had in my time there. There were the little things like the feeling
you got when jogging out to pre-game warm ups and noticing the smell of the fresh-cut grass and sight of the
orange, red and purple sky against the Friday Night Lights; Saturday mornings after Friday night football games
where we would huddle around the newspaper and a couple boxes of doughnuts checking to see whose name
got in the paper; pulling up the blue turf after winning the conference championship against the crosstown
rival on Senior Night; the hotel room pranks that we would pull on each other at all hours of the night up at the
state basketball tournament; fighting over who was going to be the announcer at the varsity reserve games on
Saturday mornings during basketball seasons. All those things come back and make me smile - now I see those
little things as big moments to why my time at BC was so special.
I’ve been fortunate to be able to live out my dream of being a Wisconsin Badger football player, play under a
legendary coach in Coach Alvarez, and be able to coach in the hallowed Rose Bowl Game. All of those things are
things I am tremendously proud of but they could never replace the people, the relationships and the times I
had at Brookfield Central High School. BC is a special place, a special family to still be a part of and I am forever
grateful for what BC has given and meant to my life.
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KELLY SVETZ
SZESTERNIAK
1993-1997
Kelly (Svetz) Szesterniak is one of the most decorated women
in the history of BCHS athletics having earned a total of12
Varsity letters competing and excelling for the Lancers in
cross country, basketball and track.
In cross country, Kelly was named First Team All Conference
her freshman and senior years, Second Team All Conference
her sophomore and junior years; she was voted Team Captain
her senior year. All four years, her team qualified for State
placing 3rd in 1994 and again in ’95.
On the track, Kelly set three (3) school records: in 1994, as a
freshman, she broke the school record for the 400M dash at
the State Meet; as a sophomore in ‘95, she was part of the
3200 Meter Relay team that finished 2nd at the State Meet
and set a new school record; and, as the Team Captain and
MVP in ’97, her senior year, she placed 4th at the State Meet
setting another school record in the 800 Meter.
Kelly excelled on the basketball court, as well, where she
earned her final 4 Varsity Letters. As a junior, she was named
First Team All Conference, CNI All Suburban and Honorable
Mention All Milwaukee. She repeated as First Team All
Conference in 1996-97, her senior year, and was named Conference Player of the Year. She was both Team Captain
and MVP that year and she was selected to play in the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches All Star Game.
That year, Kelly became the first girl in Waukesha County to score 500 points in a single season. Kelly holds seven
school records: Career Points (1209;) Season Points (502;) Game Points (36;) Field Goals/Season (174;) Field Goals
Game (15;) Free Throws/Season (117;) and, Steals/Career (202.)
Her prowess on the basketball court earned her a 4-year, full scholarship to the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
where she played from 1997-2001 winning 4 Conference Titles and appearing in 3 NCAA Tournaments. She was
on the Dean’s List all four years and was named to the Conference All-Academic Team. In both 2000 and again
in 2001, Kelly received the Joanne Jennings Award for Outstanding Academics and Team Spirit and in 2001 was
honored with the Beth Gantz Memorial Award for Leadership.
Today, Kelly lives in Pittsburgh with her husband, Mike, and two daughters, Dylan and Harper. She is the Principal
at Hoover Elementary School in the Mt. Lebanon School District.
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Personal Statement
Looking back, I can’t remember a time when athletics did not play an important role in my life. I grew up loving sports
because it was fun and challenging, and also because it was something that my dad and I shared a love for. We spent
hours playing horse in our driveway from when I could barely throw the ball high enough to touch the hoop, until I could
do reverse layups and backwards shots that challenged him to his fullest. Before high school, he coached every softball
and basketball team that I was a part of. His excitement and passion for sports ignited a spark in me. I remember
vividly how proud I was when he taught me to shoot a “jump shot” just like the pros. With my dad’s encouragement and
coaching, I felt there was nothing I couldn’t accomplish.
My first memories of Brookfield Central athletics are from watching my sister Nikki compete in cross country, basketball,
and track. In particular, I remember how much fun my dad and I had when going to watch Nikki compete in cross
country. We would map out the route and find as many places as possible to see the runners. Once the starting gun
had sounded, we were in a race against time to get to each of the vantage points to cheer her on. I loved the “race” that
we were running to cover the course and to see as much of the competitors as possible. I prided myself in the fact that
I could keep up with my dad and felt like a runner for the first time. I was always pretty quick and knew that I had been
lucky enough to inherit my speed from my mom. She used to tell me stories about how she would beat the boys in races
during her school days. My speed came in handy on the basketball court, but I had never really considered running in
high school. I always thought I would play volleyball and softball, sports I had played in junior high. Being a spectator
at these BCHS running events, I met one of the most influential people in my athletic and personal life, track and cross
country coach Lorie Lewis. Lorie encouraged me to join cross country and track, a decision that I am so thankful to
have made at the beginning of my high school career. I recall looking toward my high school days with anticipation,
excitement, and anxiety. I was moving from a small Catholic school where I had attended since kindergarten, to a large
unfamiliar place, Brookfield Central High School. Joining cross country gave me an immediate connection at BCHS. We
ran in the hot summer heat, and had bonded as a team even before the school year started. It was the beginning of a
very memorable high school journey for me.
While I am typically most remembered for my accomplishments on the basketball court, in my mind much of my
basketball success and personal growth came directly as a result of my running career at BCHS. My competitive drive
and mental toughness was honed while racing. Running cross country and track was the hardest and also the most
rewarding challenge in my high school athletic career. I learned how to focus my mind. I learned how to push past pain
and fatigue to run faster than I thought my body could go. I learned how to leave everything on the track and to not to
be afraid of a new challenge. Along the way, I also formed the most incredible bond with my fellow runners and coaches.
We were more than a team. We were a family. And while our accomplishments may have been individual ones at times,
we were all in it together until the very end. Memories of my track and cross country teams often put a smile on my
face, even to this day. Just ask my husband. Frequently when driving in the car together, an old song will come on the
radio and I will casually tell him, “This is a cross country song.” He will roll his eyes and tell me that every song is a cross
country song to me. He is right. There are countless songs that we listened to for motivation or sang our lungs out to in
the back of the team van on the way home from the state competition. I wouldn’t trade those memories for anything
and love when a song on the radio brings me back to those times.
From a very young age, basketball was always my true passion. I loved the game and couldn’t wait to be a part of high
school athletics. I played under Mary Maberry and Dan Patrick. Each of them devoted a great amount of time and
commitment to the BCHS basketball program and took us from a team that was near the back of the pack in conference
play to second place in the conference by my senior year. With Julie Vaughn at center, we had talent and height in the
middle in my early years playing for BCHS. When she graduated we lacked height, most of the team standing 5’8” or
shorter. Coach Maberry and Coach Patrick didn’t bat an eye. They put the best team on the court, regardless of height
and played to our individual strengths, which were quickness and hustle. I will never forget Jill McRoberts and Kristy
Zeman playing post at 5’8” and 5’7” and winning rebounding and scoring battles down low with their toughness and
wit. Individually, I experienced success early in my career by driving to the lane, often landing at the free throw line.
Coach Maberry, Coach Patrick and my dad knew that I needed to develop my outside game if I wanted to be an all around
threat. They pushed me in practice and worked with me in the off season. By my senior year, my three point shot was
one of my biggest threats on the court. I certainly would not have had the opportunity to play college basketball without
the persistent support and encouragement that they gave me to become the most well rounded player that I could
be. Signing my letter of intent with the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay to play basketball was one of the proudest
moments in my athletic life, and I could not have made it to that point without the support of the BCHS athletic program.
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2014 Booster Club
Golf Outing
Join us
August 17th
at
Silver Spring Country Club
for the annual Booster Club Fundraising event.
Auction, prizes, good times expected and a great way to
continue your support of Brookfield Central’s Athletics.
For more information on this year’s event, please see the Booster Club website at
http://lancers.elmbrookschools.org/. Please click on the Booster Club tab.
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Sponsors
This Booster Club wishes to thank our sponsors, without
whose help this banquet would not be possible.
Deb Donaldson, President/Owner
www.petalpushersfloral.com
17665 Greenbrier Drive, Brookfield, WI 53045
262.510.3420
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Brookfield Central High School
Booster Club, 2013-2014
Steven Meves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . President
Patrick Zmuzinski . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vice President
Cheri Shipman Wood. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Secretary
Patty Gaulke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Treasurer
Stefani Collins. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Membership
& Communications
Meg Wartman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Outdoor Concessions
Leslie Stollberg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Indoor Concessions
Lisa Winter-Cebula. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Banquets
Steve Meves,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hall of Fame
Patrick Zmuzinski, Robert Ley
Tom Knopp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Central 4Ward, Phase I, II
Patrick Zmuzinski, Steve Meves. . . . . . . . . . Golf Outing
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CENTRAL4WARD
Central4Ward, a committee formed by the BCHS Booster Club in 2012 with a mission to formalize, plan, and execute
improvements and enhancements to the athletic facilities at BCHS. This committee works in cooperation with the
Elmbrook School District along with numerous supporters and enthusiastic parents & volunteers.
In February 2012, Central4ward proposed and received school board approval to begin the planning and fundraising
for a four-phase, long-range capital improvement plans that includes the following projects:
Phase I - On-campus Baseball complex – Planning & fundraising commenced February 2012, CONSTRUCTION
COMPLETED 2013!
Phase II - Outdoor Concession and Restroom Pavilion – Fundraising Began Fall, 2012, recent Elmbrook School Board
approval allows for groundbreaking to begin this summer, with an anticipated completion of August 2014.
More than 400 individual contributors supported the effort! This is a testament of our community coming
together to support our students and athletes.
Phase III - Focusing on Tennis Courts and Girls Softball field: Planning and fundraising to begin soon.
Phase IV - Walkways & Site Improvements
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SPECIAL THANKS
The Booster Club wishes to offer special thanks to Stephanie Collins,
Cheri Shipman Wood, Joy Taylor, and Todd Sobrilski for their help in
organizing and support in coordinating this year’s banquet!
Extra special thanks to Mr. Juran and Megan Rivard, BC Senior and setup ‘guru’ for her help with our event program along with Mr. Gillette
and his musicians for providing the entertainment for the evening.
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