Sports Hall of Fame and Cardinal Excellence Dinner

The Saint Mary’s Athletic Department, in association with the Saint Mary’s Alumni Association, will induct five members into the Saint Mary’s Sports Hall of Fame on March 11, 2023: Bruna Bucciarelli B’76, George Drouches B’78, Mark Staub B’88, Jennifer (Gutterman) Becker B’06, and Jennifer (Schipp) Stewart B’06. The five will be recognized as part of the Cardinal Excellence Fund Dinner, held in Winona.

“This year we honor five alumni who excelled on the court, on the rink, and on the field,” said Brian Sisson, athletic director. “We look forward to not only congratulating these five successful Cardinal greats but also celebrating all of Cardinal athletics, which has had a fabulous year competitively and academically.

“I look forward to a sold-out event; I invite you all to join us for this signature event. Together, we’ll propel Cardinal athletics forward, and recognize the tremendous athletic accomplishments by our five Hall of Fame inductees.”

Watch the Cardinal Athletics webpage at saintmaryssports.com for more information about the Cardinal Excellence Fund Dinner.

BRUNA BUCCIARELLI B’76 (Women’s Basketball, Cross Country, Volleyball)

A true pioneer for women’s athletics at Saint Mary’s, Bucciarelli was among the first — and the best — to put on the Cardinal uniform in the inaugural stages of women’s sports. A three-sport standout in basketball, cross country, and volleyball, Bucciarelli epitomizes greatness and boldly led the way for decades of talented women athletes. Just as 50 years ago, Title IX made history in creating equal opportunity for all, Bucciarelli’s pioneering achievements led to greater opportunities for all women at Saint Mary’s.

GEORGE DROUCHES B’78 (Men’s Basketball, Baseball)

Drouches was a two-sport standout during his time at Saint Mary’s, excelling both on the hardwood and on the diamond. A FirstTeam All-MIAC selection during his junior and senior seasons, Drouches averaged 15.5 points per game and ranks 16th all-time in career scoring with 1,176 points. He enjoyed his best season as a senior, averaging 13.5 points-per-game, while dishing out 67 assists and adding 88 steals. On the baseball field, Drouches enjoyed his best season as a junior, hitting .314 (33-for-105) with three doubles, three triples, and a home run in 28 games. For his career, Drouches hit .267 (70-for-262) with eight doubles and four triples, while going 22for-26 in stolen bases.

MARK STAUB B’88 (Men’s Hockey)

A four-year letter winner, Staub, a goalie, was named First-Team All-MIAC following both his junior and senior seasons, and helped lead Saint Mary’s to a regular-season conference title in his final campaign in 1987-88. Staub, who made 74 career appearances between the pipes, saved his best season for last, appearing in all 29 games, while compiling a 3.84 goals-against-average and an .886 save percentage. Staub remains No. 1 all-time in career wins as a goalie with 50 — including a single-season school-record 22 wins in 198788 — and is No. 2 all-time in saves in a season (872) and a career (2,266).

JENNIFER (GUTTERMAN) BECKER B’06 (Fastpitch Softball)

Becker, a four-year regular on the Cardinal fastpitch softball team, led the Cardinals to an NCAA Regional appearance in 2005, while closing out her collegiate career as one of the most prolific hitters in program history. Earning conference post-season honors in all four seasons — an honorable-mention selection as a freshman and a First-Team pick as a sophomore, junior, and senior — Becker was also named Second Team All-Region following each of her final three seasons. Becker, who started every game during her four-year collegiate career, boasted a career batting average of .379 (209-for-552) with

30 doubles, 16 triples, six home runs, and 62 RBIs. She holds single-season records in games played (49), at-bats (168), and triples (8), and is the program leader in games played (162), at-bats (552), and triples (16), while sitting No. 2 all-time in hits (209).

JENNIFER (SCHIPP) STEWART B’06 (Fastpitch Softball)

Stewart was a dual threat for the Cardinals fastpitch softball team, causing opponents fits both at the plate and in the pitcher’s circle. A four-year standout, Stewart joined Becker as a member of the NCAA Regionalqualifying 2005 team and earned First-Team All-MIAC and Second-Team All-Region accolades following each of her final three seasons. In the circle, Stewart is among the program leaders in virtually every pitching category, including ranking No. 1 in career strikeouts (545) and shutouts (22), while sitting No. 2 all-time in complete games (52), innings pitched (516 2/3), and appearances (99). Stewart put together her best season in 2005, when she set single-season program records for wins (25) and shutouts (9), closing out the year with a 27-7 record and a 1.80 ERA. At the plate, Stewart boasted a career .289 batting average — including hitting .358 in 2006 — with 24 doubles, five home runs, and 71 RBIs.