1
M I L W A U K E E
A T H L E T I C
C O M M U N I C A T I O N S
editorial
CHRIS ZILLS
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS & MULTIMEDIA
SEAN ENGEL
DIRECTOR OF ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
RACHEL KLEMP
DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE SERVICES
SETH DITTMER
COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT
GARY D’AMATO FEATURE WRITER
DEB LOGAN
CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP MILWAUKEE PANTHER SPORTS PROPERTIES
PHOTOGRAPHY
CONLEY BURCH, LEN CEDERHOLM, SPIRIT HESSE, REILLY HALL, RACHEL KLEMP, JACK PINGLE, AND STEVE WOLTMAN
CREATIVE SERVICES BRAEDEN DETERT, JAKE MICHALSKI, GIANNA LAPERNE, AND SPENCER JACOBS
2
08 12
SPORT UPDATES
Men’s basketball, women’s basketball, swimming & diving.
CSC APPRECIATION WEEK
Meet the people behind the scenes! The communications staff has added a couple new faces the past year and are thrilled about their positions.
16
THE VOLK SISTERS
Kortnie and Kallie Volk were multi-sport athletes growing up but fell in love with track & field when they were young and now finally get the opportunity to compete on the same team this school year with the Panthers. Born three years apart, the sisters are set to be teammates for the black & gold in 2023-24.
22
28 32 36
BACK FOR MORE!
by Gary D’Amato Three years ago, COVID created many obstacles for every team competing across the Milwaukee Athletic Department. This past fall, a pair of student-athletes each used their extra season of eligibility that was granted due to the pandemic with each reaching the decision to come back in their own way. Gary D’Amato takes an in-depth look behind Ari Miller (volleyball) and Brooke Parnello (soccer) and their 2023 successes.
2023 HALL OF FAME
The athletic department welcomed 4 new inductees into the Bud K. Haidet Atheltics Hall of Fame!
PANTHERS IN THE PROS
Learn where past baskeball panthers are hooping around! From the USA to all around Europe, to Japan, our alumni have been doing great things.
I NFORMATION ON THE PANTHERS EXCELLENCE FUND
what’s
INSIDE 3
LIGHT UP THE HYPE
SHE’S A RUNNER, SHE’S A TRACK STAR! Dominique Thomas set the new Milwaukee Indoor 200M record of 24.31 seconds at the DePaul Blue Demon Holiday Invite on December 8th. Thomas took the record from teammate, Natalie Block, who ran a time of 24.57 seconds last year. Prior to Block, former Panther Kelsey Conrad held the record with a 24.70 mark recorded in 2009.
4
5
LIGHT UP THE HYPE
HALL OF FAME IS THE NAME OF THE GAME Three recent Milwaukee student-athletes and a former Panther football player who starred on the gridiron over 50 years ago were inducted into the Bud K. Haidet Milwaukee Athletics Hall of Fame on November 18. The members of the Class of 2023 include Luke Meeteer (baseball), Durell Busby (men’s track & field), Craig Greene (men’s basketball), and Dan Hovland (football).
6
7
NEW LOOK SAME GREAT TASTE
8
PEPSI, PEPSI-COLA, thE PEPSi GLObE, And thE PEPSi PuLSE dESiGn ArE trAdEmArkS Of PEPSiCO, InC. 28709000
S P O RT U P DATE
MEN’S BASKETBALL
It has been a roller-coaster season so far for the men’s team, sitting at 4-7 on the campaign with one final nonconference contest remaining against Chattanooga Dec. 22. The Panthers have played very well at times, but are still looking for that consistency once Horizon League play opens back up.
19.5 ppg scoring average lead the way, with Erik Pratt second at 8.9 ppg. Pratt has become a big piece of the offense of late, setting career-highs in points scored on a pair of occasions (17 at St. Thomas followed by 18 at Davis) while leading the offense each of the past three games.
The team picked up a big 81-79 victory over UC Davis recently and also topped Sienna in the closing seconds in a thriller that featured 26 lead changes.
The Panthers are in the midst of a fourgame homestand and will welcome Robert Morris Dec. 29 and close out 2023 with Wright State Dec. 31.
Injuries have played a large factor, with leading scorer BJ Freeman missing time as well as Langston Wilson, Zach Howell, and Dominic Ham with various situations. Freeman and his
9
S P O RT U P DATE
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL 10
The Panthers finished the first half of their season with a 7-6 record, ending non-conference play with a 6-5 mark. Some first-half highlights for the Panthers saw Milwaukee win two games at the McNeese Multi-Team Event, including a win over host McNeese by an 88-67 score. During the game, senior Kendall Nead scored 38 points and tied the program record for field goal makes in a game as she finished the evening 17-for-23. Nead is currently sixth in Division I in field goal makes this season. On November 25, Milwaukee knocked down 17 three-pointers in a regulation game for the first time in program history including a team-best five from Anna Lutz, while Angie Cera connected on four from long distance. Kamy Peppler had three three-pointers in the Central Michigan game to go along
with two other performances thus far with six three-point makes. After recording its first league victory of the season over IUPUI on December 3 by a 70-59 score, Milwaukee also hung up a 59-52 win over Eastern Illinois on December 15. In its non-conference finale, Milwaukee downed the Viterbo V-Hawks, 10037, for its largest margin of victory in program history, while also tying the team record for field goal makes in a regulation game with 39. It was the first time the Panthers reached the century mark in regulation since February 2, 2002. During the season Kendall Nead was named Horizon League Player of the Week on December 18, while newcomer Jorey Buwalda earned Horizon League Freshman of the Week accolades on November 27.
Roar report winter 2023
S P O RT U P DATE
SWIMMING & DIVING
The Milwaukee swimming & diving program has put together a strong showing in the fall portion of their schedule, as the women sit at 5-1 and the men at 3-2. The 3-2 mark for the men’s side marks their best start since the 2012-13 season. The women have won their last five dual meets, followed up by a secondplace finish at the IUPUI House of Champions Invitational to conclude their fall schedule. The men have won their last two, followed by a fifth-place finish at IUPUI.
so far, and has also qualified for the Zone D Diving Championships. Both teams will return to the action on January 27th in a dual meet against conference foe Green Bay. The Panthers will then face St. Thomas and Stevens Point on back-to-back days on February 2nd and 3rd before the Horizon League Championships starting February 14th.
Julie Rebek has been named the Horizon League’s Female Diver of the Week on three separate occasions so far this season, and has already qualified for the NCAA Division I Zone D Diving Championships in the Spring. Adam St. John has been named the league’s Male Diver of the Week once
11
APPRECIATION WEEK
College Sports Communicators Appreciation Week may have been in November, but we appreciate our staff the whole year!
12
ANDREW LEVESQUE | Andrew has been with the Panthers for going on three years and runs all things video-related. Technically he has been a Panther forever and apparently can’t get away from it since his last position was at Eastern Illinois and his undergrad degree came from Northern Iowa. In 3-5 years, look for him doing video work in the NFL in Carolina or the NHL with Florida.
CHRIS ZILLS | Chris is in his 19th year with the Panthers and, as the old veteran, attempts to keep everyone on the staff happy at all times while sharing with the world the great stories of the MKE student-athletes. He hasn’t reached “old man yelling at clouds” status yet, but we’re getting closer.
RoarRoar report report winter Fall 2023
SETH DITTMER | Seth is the communications assistant and also played basketball for the Panthers as an undergrad. He started his career in athletic communications with Cardinal Stritch but told us that he was not the one responsible for them closing their doors. He now holds the MKE record for tallest athletics communications staff member in school history.
RACHEL KLEMP | Rachel is the director of creative services, the main department photographer, and puts together everything graphicdesign related that Milwaukee Athletics does and will do “anything to get the shot”. She was hired away from the real world about a year ago and now likes everything about working in college athletics … except the parking tickets.
SEAN ENGEL | Sean is in his first year with the Panthers as the director of communications but has been working in the field since before graduation 13 years ago. He is from New York so his favorite baseball team is the Mets and his favorite football team is the Jets and his favorite quarterback was Aaron Rodgers – at least for three snaps this season.
13
WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED
on & off the court. Whether it’s industry-leading 24/7 roadside assistance, membership or travel services, AAA has you covered with quality, service and value – whenever and wherever you go.
Buy one Classic membership get one free.
Scan this QR Code or visit AAA.com/DEAL
Huge Fans and Proud Partner of the Milwaukee Panthers.
888-205-5553
AAA.com/DEAL
Visit your Local AAA Office
A member can add one eligible family member for FREE for up to one year. Free Associate membership expires on renewal date of Primary member. Associate memberships are available to the Primary member’s spouse, one other adult living in the household, and their children living at the same residence or away at school. Associate members must have the same type of membership as their Primary member, with the exception of Motorcycle. Upon activation and with proper identification, AAA will provide regular AAA services and full privileges for the new member. Roadside benefits begin three days after payment of dues. Some restrictions apply. Roadside assistance is provided by independent facilities contracted by AAA. Coverage in taxis, limousines and other ride-sharing conveyances is excluded. Visit AAA.com/MemberHandbook for details about member benefits, including any limitations or restrictions. Offers, terms, conditions and policies are subject to change without notice. Savings partners subject to change. 23-RM-0888
14
Roar report winter 2023
PUD PARTNER OF PAR ALETICS - Fresh, Modern Hotel - Free Breakfast - Free WiFi - Minutes from Campus - Sofa Sleepers - Smart TVs - Event Space with High Tech AV Scan the QR Code for a Panthers Friends and Family Rate or Contact Katie McGinnis, Director of Sales Katie.McGinnis@Hyatt.com 414.808.3813
15
VOLK SISTERS
16
Roar report winter 2023
Meet Kortnie and Kallie Volk, sisters on the Milwaukee track & field team. Born three years apart, Kortnie is in her fourth year as a Panther, while Kallie is beginning her first. The Volks grew up in a very active family in Three Lakes, Wisconsin, playing multiple sports and partaking in a variety of hobbies and activities. So, why track & field? “I actually just kind of fell in love with it, as kind of an accidental thing that I found out I was good at,” Kortnie said. “My older sister Karlie played softball, so my dad figured I would play softball too. I always had to play up, being from a small town where there weren’t enough girls my age for a team, and I just told my dad that I didn’t love the sport.” “He said ‘okay, if you’re not going to do this, you need to find something else that you’re going to do’,” Kortnie continued. “So, I decided that I was going to try track, I was going to try running. I went to a practice and just fell in love with it and thought that maybe this could go somewhere, like I’m pretty good at this. That’s just kind of how it blossomed and started for me.” The switch from softball to track & field as a primary sport came early for Kortnie, somewhere in the range of
5th or 6th grade. “Ever since we could walk, our parents put us in different sports and activities,” Kortnie said. “They really wanted us to be well rounded and active at a young age.” “My first race was actually a 5K that I wasn’t even entered in. My dad just dropped me off at the start line and told me I was going to run it, and when I finished as the first female everyone was looking around wondering who this girl without a bib number was.”
reach her highest potential.” “I think we both have our different strengths and weaknesses that fall into different areas as well,” Kallie added. “That helps a little since it makes it so that we’re not just constantly competing against each other. I can help her in some areas, and she can help me in some others.”
Even though Kortnie and Kallie’s high school careers overlapped and they could play basketball and run cross country together, they were Kortnie’s decision to pursue unable to run high school track & field was a big influence track together because of the on the younger Kallie. “I’ve season’s cancellation due to the always looked up to my older COVID-19 pandemic. sisters, so seeing Kortnie join track and be good at it, “Track was the only sport we I wanted to be just like her,” weren’t able to play – or run Kallie said. “So, I joined, and – together in high school,” here we are. We both started Kortnie said. “And now that off as distance runners, but we’re on the same college kind of transitioned into team it’s starting to come full jumping and sprinting where circle and we’re kind of getting we found our strengths.” what we wanted and hoped for.” Everything was a competition for the Volk family growing “We’ve always been close up… Board games, seeing who growing up,” Kallie added. could brush their teeth and “So, not having that season get into bed the fastest, and together and now getting that obviously, sports. Now that the opportunity to compete with sisters are on the same team, each other was a big plus when they’re still competitive but in a I was deciding where to go. It’s different way. been really exciting and fun. It’s super nice to have her here “I want her to do well as much with me and I’m super happy as I want myself to do well,” with my decision.” Kortnie said. “So, it’s more supporting her so she can “Having her here definitely 17
adds to the mental aspect of the sport a bit,” Kortnie said. “Not only do I want to set an example for the other freshmen on the team, but especially my sister. My freshman year, I ended up injured, so I want her to learn from my mistakes and not have to make them herself.” “There are some similarities between them for sure,” head coach Andrew Basler said. “It took me and Kortnie a while to find that right balance between how hard she wants to push herself and how much rest her body needs to fully recover, but now we’re at a good point where she’s open about how she’s feeling mentally and physically.” “And now you bring Kallie into the mix. She has the same kind of drive, wanting to do everything that I have down for workouts,” Basler continued. “But I think Kortnie being here and now understanding the balance of when to rest and when to work has been huge in her mentorship of Kallie.” It was during Kallie’s junior year of high school that the sisters started to realize they had a real chance to run on the same team in college. “I hadn’t really considered the possibility of running together until I was warming up one day in practice, and coach made a
18
comment about how far Kallie high school and collegiate had jumped in the triple jump,” track. “I don’t even know Kortnie said. how to pace myself yet, I just run with her,” Kallie “I still have the text that she commented. “It’s made the sent me that day,” Kallie said. transition a lot easier. If I ever “She told me that Basler feel uncomfortable about mentioned me in practice something or just want a little and that I should fill out the extra support, I know I can recruiting questionnaire, which always go to her.” is kind of how I ended up here.” According to Kortnie, the team’s goal is to win the The Volks, along with the rest Horizon League Championships of the Milwaukee track & field for both the indoor and program, opened the 2023-24 outdoor seasons. In the past indoor season on December three seasons, Milwaukee has 8th at the DePaul Blue Demon finished as the indoor runner Holiday Invite. Kortnie started up three times, the outdoor her senior year off strong, runner up twice, along with one winning the long jump with third place outdoor finish two a mark of 5.52 meters. Kallie years ago. had a solid start to her own collegiate career, just missing The last time that the team won the podium in the high jump both the indoor and outdoor with a mark of 1.63 meters for league championships in the fourth place. same season was 2011, which was the second year in a “It was really cool,” Kortnie row that the Panthers said. “I could tell she had some accomplished that jitters for her first college meet, feat. Since 1995, so I was just trying to go into Milwaukee it confidently and help her to has won do the same. Obviously, first both the meet, there are some jitters all around, and she did great.” The sisters tend to run similar paces in practice, which Kallie says helped her adjust to the difference between
Roar report winter 2023
indoor and outdoor conference championships a total of five times. In that same timeframe, the Panthers have won one of the two championships an additional six times.
Kortnie said. “Now, being an upperclassman, I want to instill those same goals and that drive into the freshman. I think it would also just be such a cool and full-circle moment if we were able to accomplish that big goal that the program has been working towards for so long, and to do it with my sister on the team with me.”
“Looking from the outside in, I’ve seen them come so close the past three years,” Kallie added. “Obviously coming in I have that goal for the team and for myself, but I also want it “That’s my goal right now, is for her so badly. So, I think that just to have that final glory moment before I graduate.” drives me too.” “It hurts, coming that close that many times,”
19
20
Steren McDonald’s Restaurants are committed to doing the right thing and that means being part of our UW Milwaukee campus community and supporting people every day! For the second season, Milwaukee Panthers Basketball is teaming up with McDonald’s to support UW Milwaukee’s Bandana Project… a mental health awareness and suicide prevention initiative designed to increase resource accessibility and reduce the stigma. For every free throw a Panther makes at home this season, McDonald’s will donate to UW Milwaukee’s Bandana Project to provide help and support to students in time of need. Last season Steren McDonald’s donated over $7500.00 to the UW Milwaukee Bandana Project.
THANK YOU STEREN McDONALD’S and Go Panthers!
21
2021
201 9
2023
2022
Brooke Parnello and Ari Miller could almost pass for sisters.
2020
Lean and athletic, with outgoing personalities and ready smiles, they are two peas in a Panthers pod. Both are whip-smart student-athletes: Parnello got her undergraduate degree in 3 1/2 years, majoring in criminal justice; Miller, a health administration and economics major, came within one A-minus of a 4.0 gradepoint average. “Oh, yeah, I was mad,” she says with a laugh, “but whatever.”
Ari Miller
Back for More! by Gary DiAmato
2020
2019 2023
2022
202 1
lo
r n el a P e k o o Br 22
Both decided to use their extra year of COVID eligibility while pursuing their MBAs and wound up playing integral roles in their respective teams’ success — Parnello in women’s soccer, Miller in women’s volleyball. For Parnello, of Rockford, Ill., staying for a fifth year at Milwaukee required a leap of faith, one that she had to be persuaded to take. “Last year, I think mentally I was preparing myself for it to be my last year,” she says of the 2022 season. “I was ready to go out with a group of girls that I spent four years with. … I was ready to be done with school.” After heart-to-heart
Roar report winter 2023
conversations with Coach Kevin Boyd, family members and teammates, Parnello had a change of heart and decided to come back for a fifth year. Soccer was in her blood — then, now and forever— and she knew she had more to give. “I don’t know how to explain it,” she says, “but it didn’t feel like I was quite done yet.” That extra year of eligibility for college studentathletes— one tiny silver lining in an otherwise devastating pandemic — turned out to be a gift for Parnello and for Milwaukee’s women’s soccer program. As a co-captain, she solidified the back line with her poise and experience and helped lead the Panthers to a 12-3-5 record (7-0-3 in the Horizon League) and a sixth consecutive berth in the NCAA Tournament. She was the star of the conference tournament, scoring in a 5-0 victory over Robert Morris in the semifinals and then converting on a penalty kick in the 81st minute for the game-winner in the Panthers’ 1-0 victory over Northern Kentucky in the final. She was named the tournament MVP. “That was a surreal moment,” Parnello says of the PK, a bullet into the low-left corner. “We’d been practicing PKs and I was in the lineup for the five if we had to go to PKs. So I had confidence. … I was looking around and I saw Lainey (Higgins) and Kayla (Rollins), and I was like, ‘Anyone want it?’ We always say if someone wants it, let them have it, because confidence is key for shooting a PK. So I was looking around and they were looking back at me and I was like, ‘I think I’m going to take it.’ “I went to the spot where I normally had taken a PK prior in the season. I know they scout that, but I just knew that if I hit it hard enough and low to the corner that it was going in. Once it
went in, I don’t know, I just went crazy. It was an unbelievable moment.” Milwaukee went on to lose to Wisconsin, 2-0, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, but Parnello leaves the program fulfilled, knowing she has helped set the tone for the future. “It is bittersweet,” she says. “Everyone says it goes by so fast. The soccer aspect of it, I couldn’t have dreamt of something better than ending my career with five conference championships. Our game against Wisconsin wasn’t the best we could have played but I think we have all grown from that and I hope next year they can get further than that.” For the season, Parnello scored a career-high 11 points (four goals, three assists) and earned second-team All-Horizon League honors. She also was named to the 2023 Academic AllDistrict Soccer Team, selected by the College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA). “She had a spectacular year and she scored some big-time goals in the conference tournament,” Boyd says. “So it was a pretty special year. It worked out maybe better than you could ever ask for.” Miller’s situation was a bit different. She knew as far back as her sophomore season that she would be taking her COVID year of eligibility. A bonus season of college volleyball? Heck, yeah. Sign her up. “I just love the sport so much,” she says. “I love volleyball. I love my teammates. Honestly, they’re like a second family. So having another year to play volleyball, that definitely was a big thing because if I could play volleyball forever, I would.” A 6-foot-1 middle blocker from Richfield, Wis., Miller has been sensational since the first day
23
she stepped onto the court for the Panthers. She was named Horizon League Freshman of the Year in 2019 and in 2021 was named the conference’s Player of the Year (and Offensive Player of the Year). She finished her collegiate career as the first player in Horizon League history to earn five first-team honors. This season, Miller was the conference leader in several statistical categories. She had a Horizon League-best .371 hitting percentage and led the league in total blocks (131) and assisted blocks (111) for a league-best 1.07 blocks per set. She also was second in the conference in solo blocks with 20. Miller re-wrote the Panthers’ record book, finishing her five years first in all-time kills (1,563), first in attacking percentage (.334), first in matches (135) and sets (499) played, third in total blocks (451) and sixth in kills per set (3.13). “Definitely, she’ll be hard to replace,” says Coach Susie Johnson. “She’s an extremely hard worker and she’s very athletic and she has ability to go in that extra gear all the time. That’s pretty special, and that’s hard to replace.”
24
Eventually, Miller will likely pursue a career in hospital administration, but first she wants to explore possible opportunities in professional
volleyball. “I’ve been thinking about maybe going overseas and playing,” she says. “I do have an opportunity. I’m talking to a few agents. Nothing has been decided yet. I would love to go to Europe. I’d like to go to one of the southern countries, like Portugal or Spain or Greece, because you practice four hours a day and you have a game on the weekend. You’re going to be able to explore the area and immerse yourself in the culture.” Parnello is interested in working for a federal agency, perhaps the FBI, but also sees soccer in her future. She has experience coaching U-9 and U-10 girls in the Bavarian United Soccer Club. “I don’t think I could have a life without soccer,” she says. “I’m not sure what level, but I would love to coach.” Parnello speaks for Miller, and for hundreds if not thousands of college student-athletes nationwide, when she talks about the extra year of COVID eligibility and the ability to continue to play a sport she loves while furthering her education. “I’m very grateful that I took that leap,” she says. “I think I’ve learned a lot and I think I’ve grown so much as a person and a player.” Gary D’Amato, a three-time National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association sportswriter of the year in Wisconsin, joined the Milwaukee Panthers as a feature writer for the Roar Report in September 2018.
25
26
27
Bud K. Haidet Athletics Hall of Fame The Hall of Fame was renamed as the “Bud K. Haidet Athletics Hall of Fame” in April of 2009. The honor came after Haidet served over 21 years as the Director of Athletics for the Milwaukee Panthers.
LUKE MEETEER BASEBALL
DURELL BUSBY TRACK & FIELD
CRAIG GREENE MEN’S BASKETBALL
DAN HOVLAND FOOTBALL
28
Haidet led UWM to unprecedented athletic and academic heights. He guided the program from NAIA status back to NCAA Division I competition and then established UWM as a powerhouse in the Horizon League, with teams totaling 27 NCAA Tournament appearances under his watch. Along the way, Haidet helped UWM athletics build a national reputation, highlighted by a men’s basketball run to the “Sweet 16” in 2005. During his tenure, the Panthers won the Horizon League’s McCafferty Trophy four times while winning the league’s women’s all-sports award seven times and the men’s award three times. In that span, UWM teams won 85 regular season, tournament, and championship titles, while Panther coaches claimed 67 league coach of the year honors.
Roar report winter 2023
LUKE MEETEER BASEBALL Meeteer put together one of the most accomplished careers for a Milwaukee baseball player all-time from 2012 through 2016, graduating as the program “hit king” with 273 hits. He also reset career records in stolen bases (finished with 98, was 73), at bats (854, was 803), runs scored (189/178), walks (tied with 99), games started (217/211) and games played (tied with 222). Meeteer also finished second all-time in hitby-pitches (41), tied for fourth in triples (8), and fourth in total bases (373). He capped his impressive Milwaukee career with a stellar senior season, earning First-Team All-Horizon League honors. A leading candidate for league player of the year, he batted a career-high .362 with 44 runs batted in, scoring 53 runs while collecting 79 hits – including 16 doubles and a career-high six home runs. He slugged .537, recorded a .452 onbase percentage and stole 25 bases in 26 attempts while also becoming just the third Academic All-American in Milwaukee baseball history when he earned a spot on the Third Team Academic All-America squad. Meeteer led the conference in stolen bases that season, with his 25 steals the second-most in program history behind his own record of 37 in 2015 and was among the top five in numerous other categories: second in average, on-base percentage, and total bases, third in slugging and runs scored, fifth in hits, sixth in walks, and seventh in RBI and doubles. In addition to becoming the 12th player to record over 200 hits (finishing with the record of 273), he was named Horizon League all-conference three times in his career as well as to a spot on the All-Newcomer Team as a freshman in 2012, the same year he put together the fifth-longest hitting streak in school history at 23 games. He also holds the school record with eight at-bats in a game (March of 2016) and nearly tied the school record of six hits in a contest when he finished with a 5-for-6 effort against Butler in May of 2012. A regular member of the Horizon League All-Academic Team and Honor Roll, Meeteer closed out his career by not making an error over his final 127 games (321 total chances).
DURELL BUSBY TRACK & FIELD Busby (2010-2014) graduated as one of the most-decorated athletes in school history, capped by First-Team All-American honors after taking seventh in the 110m hurdles at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Busby was named the Horizon League Outdoor Athlete of the Year for the second time in his career his senior season, as well as crowned league champion in the 110m hurdles for the third-straight year and the javelin for the third time in his career. His time of 13.88 in the 110m hurdles at the league meet broke his own league record and his toss of 62.12m (203-10) in javelin also a new league and school record. Busby won a remarkable 11 league titles during his time with the Black & Gold. He still holds school and league records in the 60m hurdles, 110m hurdles and javelin. He started his career by winning a league championship in the 60m hurdles as a freshman at the 2010 indoor meet and never stopped setting records. Overall, he closed out his career as holder of three league records and five school records, but he didn’t just break those marks once
– Busby owns the school record in the 55m hurdles, set the school record in the 60m hurdles five different times, set the MKE mark in the 110m hurdles on six different occasions, the javelin twice, and the shuttle relay twice. He also broke the Horizon League standard in the 60m and the javelin twice apiece. His list of conference titles includes the following: 2014 Horizon League 110m Hurdle Champion, 2014 Horizon League Javelin Champion, 2014 Horizon League 60m Hurdle Champion, 2013 Horizon League 110m Hurdle Champion, 2013 Horizon League 4x100m Relay Champion, 2012 Horizon League 110m Hurdle Champion, 2012 Horizon League Javelin Champion, 2012 Horizon League 60m Hurdle Champion, 2011 Horizon League Javelin Champion, 2011 Horizon League 60m Hurdle Champion, and 2010 Horizon League 60m Hurdle Champion. He was also All-League Second Team in the javelin (2013) and 4x100m (2012).
CRAIG GREENE MEN’S BASKETBALL Greene was a Panther while the program was transitioning to the NCAA Division I level – his career spanned 1989 to 1993 – and was one of the most successful of his era. When he graduated, his DI totals of 1,174 points and 505 rebounds both ranked No. 1 on the career list. His overall collegiate totals include 1,216 points and 557 rebounds – one of nine players in the all-time history of MKE basketball to cross both the 1,000-point/500-rebound thresholds. He led the team in scoring as both a junior (16.9 ppg) and senior (career-high 17.3 points per game) and also topped the roster in rebounding both of those campaigns (5.8 rpg/6.9 rpg). Upon graduation, Greene held the school record for most blocks with 87 (87 of his 99 career blocks came in the DI era), a number that stood until it was finally broken in 2016. He was also Top 5 in rebounds (505), field goal attempts (886), field-goal percentage (.497), three-point field goals made (124), and three-point field-goal percentage (.423), as well as Top 10 in steals (114) and free-throw percentage (.762, a number which climbs to .771 if you include his non-D1 statistics). Greene was one of the faces of the program his final two seasons and is remembered for his 23 points and nine rebounds in a December 1992 victory over Wisconsin. That 77-72 victory over the Badgers remained the only time the Panthers topped UW until 23 years later in December of 2015.
DAN HOVLAND FOOTBALL Hovland was a four-year letterwinner for the Milwaukee football team from the 1966 through 1969 seasons. A team co-captain in 1969 and the captain of the defense as both a junior and a senior, Hovland capped his career by helping lead the Panthers to a 17-10 win over Bradley on Homecoming in a game played at County Stadium in November of 1969. Hovland worked as an assistant coach with the Milwaukee football team after his playing days ended, all of which came after a very successful high school career at nearby Messmer where he lettered seven times in track & field and football and was class president.
29
30
31
PANTHERS IN THE PROS 32
16 2012nthers hely a P | bat Tiby Matt gary, Szom 2.7 apg n pg, Hu , 6.0 r g p p 11.3
Vance J ohnson |P Mexico, Correca anthers 2017-19 m inos 12.0 pp g, 5.4 rp UAT Victoria g, 1.4 ap g
Vin Bak er Jr. Denmark | Pant , Rande r 17.3 pp g, 10.5 rp
thers | Pan chi m a br agu dre A pan, Yam apg a Dean J , 2.0 2 rpg . 9 , ppg 17.3
Roar report winter 2023
-21 2018 s s r e h nt lyer s | Pa Bristol F g a c u m, ap nL Te’Jo d Kingdo rpg, 5.1 3 e 4. Unit ppg, 10.9
Tony Meier | Panthers 2008-12 Poland, King Szczecin 14.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 2.3 apg
thers 20 21-23 rs Cimb ria pg 1.3 a pg
rs 2022-23 nd | Panthe a R d a m h A P-Basket Finland, KT g, 1.4 apg rpg, 2.1 bp .9 7 , g p p .8 12
Angela
Rodrigu ez | Pan thers 20 Greece, 10-14 N iki Lefka 15.8 pp das g, 3.3 rp g, 5.3 ap g
-20
2018
i g 3 bp g, 1.
Patrick Bald win Jr. | Pan thers 2021-2 NBA, Washin 2 gton Wizard s 2.0 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.4 apg
Steph Kostowicz | Panthers 2014-18 Italy, San Martino 15.5 ppg, 13.6 rpg, 2.1 apg
33
The Milwaukee Panthers value the opportunity to represent our university throughout the community. Through this platform, we are proud to have completed over 2,900 hours of service to our community this past year. Thank you for your support.
Nominate your non-profit organization for the Gruber Community Corner. Panther Athletics and Gruber Law Offices are happy to invite your group to an upcoming men’s basketball game at Panther Arena. Your group will receive 50 to 100 game tickets provided courtesy of Gruber Law Office. Plus, during a timeout in the game, your group will be featured on the videoboard. Call 414-251-6974 to participate.
34
35
THANK YOU! Your support of MKE Athletics provides opportunities for over 300 studentathletes to pursue excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in the community. Numbers based on contributions to athletics from July 1, 2022 - October 31, 2023
HALL OF FAME $25,000+ Anonymous David Bogenschild Charles Hildebrand Frederick Sitzberger
CHAMPION $10,000 - $24,999 Anonymous Amanda Braun Dennis Klein David Kriete Brett and Susan Miller Ryan Seidel Stan Stojkovic Douglas and Nancy Weas Dennis and Susan Webb
MVP $7,500 - $9,999
CAPTAIN
GOLD
$1,500 - $2,499
$500 - $999
Able Drywall Co. Anonymous Augustine Agency LLC James Cleary Carla Cross Clifford Ellsworth Peter Faust Bud and Elizabeth Haidet Patrick Kessenich Jamie and Matt Kulasa Bart Lundy Alejandro Marchan Paul Mason Mark Morin Pi in The Sky Coffee Elisa and Lawrence Pitrof Keith Noller Dr. Erika Sander James Santarelli Mr. and Mrs. Larry J. Schnuck Douglas Schwinn Joah Tucker Bobby Wiltgen Wisconsin Center District
Stephen Schooff Steren Management Company, Inc.
STARTER ALL-AMERICAN $5,000 - $7,499 Anonymous Gregory Blohowiak Tim and Stephanie Connolly Karl and Chris Fiasca Andrew Fogel Matthew and Rachel Mahoney Glen and Melissa Ringwall Fred Tabak Jodi Ulrich Nicole and Steven Wurster
ALL-CONFERENCE $2,500 - $4,999 Karen and Kim Anderson Garrett Butrym Jason Frederick Ms. Shawn A. Geinopolos and Mr. Mark Geinopolos Larry Goad Gruber Law Offices, LLC Michael Orgeman Emily Phillips Larry Poll Susan Riesch Mort and Sarah Sayyed James Weise
$1,000 - $1,499 Artisan Partners Limited James Babcock Baird Foundation, Inc. James Barwick Kathryn and Robert Berkley James Bryce Richard Buser Stephanie Chedid Margaret Dethloff El Rey Mexican Products, Inc. Porcaro Ford Danette Gilhaus Lawrence Hackett Jack Johnson Samuel Keele Steve Masters Normco Ltd Jen Bauer Roche and Chris Roche Kyle Stephens Peggy Williams-Smith and Timothy Smith Carrie Smock Chris Torhorst
Anonymous Richard Amann Deborah Ambruso Patrick Anderson Tammy Augustine Frankie Azzolina Julie Baron Andrew Belton Sara Boyle Steven Broas Belinda Cambre Lisa Cantrell Connie Coan Anthony Davis Macie Dorow Jocelyn Fischer Barry Fries David Gilbert Chris and Karen Giles Chase Gravengood Tom Hoffer Patrick Horne Matthew Houk Charles Hurtgen Grant Jorgensen Roger Kamau Linda Keele John Kissinger Thomas Kleewein Lisa and Paul Kojis Mike Kosky Philip Lorge Dennis McBride John Morency James Mueller Joan Nesbitt Craig Nylund Old Time Ballplayers of WI Kenneth Peterson Kathleen Sawin Kahler Slater Somerstone Joe Sosnowski Dave Spano Thomas Stefaniak Jill Thistle Kara Thomas David Toepel Trina Van Horn Michael Vebber James Weatherly Louis Weiher Jill Wiedmann Wayne Youngquist
*Please contact Cody Bohl (bohl@uwm.edu) if you would like to opt out of having your name acknowledged.
Being a part of the Panther Excellence Fund is not only an investment in the athletic program and student-athletes of Milwaukee, it also provides many benefits for you. The Panther Excellence Fund is excited to announce the following benefits for donors who support the Panthers (beginning in the 2023-24 academic year). Benefits will be awarded according to athletics annual gifts and will be available to Panther Excellence Fund members the following sports/academic year. For more information or to hear about opportunities to get involved with Milwaukee Athletics, please contact Chris Roche (rochec@uwm.edu) or Cody Bohl (bohl@uwm.edu).
Find us in Panther Arena, Pilot Project Brewing, participating bars, restaurants, and liquor stores across the area! 38
#FORTHEMKE
39