September 17, 2024

MADISON, S.D. – The Dakota State University Athletics Department introduced seven new individual members into the 28^th annual Hall of Fame Friday (Sept. 13) at the new eSports room of the Beacom PREMIER Complex building.  It was the first DSU Athletics' special event that was held inside the new Beacom PREMIER Complex. 

Inductees included former athletes in the women's and men's track & field program, football, and a coach.

Former DSU Athletics Hall of Famer Amy Crissinger introduced Michelle (Butash) Daniels (Class of 1997).  Daniels was a four-year South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference (SDIC) Outdoor Track & Field All-Conference member in 1994, 1995, 1996, and 1997.  She was also part of the Trojan women's outdoor track & field SDIC conference championship teams in 1996 and 1997.  She also competed at the outdoor track & field meet.

She also played women's basketball at Dakota State, where her single season steals record is still intact today with 109 steals during the 1996-97 season. 

DSU Athletics honored Brent Dowling (Class of 1996) as one of the top sprinters in track & field during the early 1990's.  He was introduced by Shane Scholten.  Dowling was a four-year SDIC Track & Field All-Conference member in 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1995.  He also had made appearances at the NAIA national track & field meets during his career at Dakota State. 

Dowling is listed in numerous track & field school 'Top 10' school records, most notably listed in the top three times in the men's outdoor 4 x 200-meter relay.  The 4 x 200-met relay team of Dowling, Chad Lausen, Jason Smidt, and Tard Smith in 1995 still hold the 4 x 200-meter relay record time today with a 1 minute, 26.51 seconds.

Dakota State's Interim Athletics Director Bud Postma commented about Brad Gilbert, who was a long-tenured athletic trainer for the Trojans.  He is the second athletic trainer to be inducted into the DSU Athletics Hall of Fame (Dr. Kathie Courtney in 2016).

Gilbert arrived at Dakota State in August 1997 and served as the athletic trainer for 20-plus years.  He was named to the North Star Athletic Association Athletic Trainer in 2017. 

Former football teammate Tom Nielsen introduced Tommy Hofer (Class of 2005).  Hofer was one of the prolific wide receivers in DSU football history.  He set numerous school records and collected football awards at Dakota State.

Hofer was named the Dakota Athletic Conference Most Valuable Player and NAIA All-America First Team All-America in 2005.  He finished as a three-time DAC All-Conference recipient, as well as three-time NAIA Football All-America athlete (twice as Honorable Mention).  Hofer all-time school records in receptions (255) and receiving yards (3,456) are still intact today at DSU.

John Koupal introduced Mike Katen.  Katen fueled DSU's defensive unit as a member of the top defensive teams in the NAIA in the late 1980's and early 1990's.  He was honored as the NAIA District 12 Player-of-the-Week in 1991.  He also was named to the SDIC Football All-Conference in 1990 and 1991. 

Katen earned the NAIA Football All-America Honorable Mention status in 1991 after leading Dakota State with 94 solo tackles and 67 tackle assists.

Dale Martin, who was unable to attend the induction ceremony, introduced Kim Nelson (Class of 1979) via Zoom as a coach into the DSU Athletics Hall of Fame.  Nelson has forty-five (45) years of successful coaching at the high school levels, and was an integral member of the dominant Trojan football squads in the late 1970's.

He was a three-sport student-athlete at then Dakota State College in football, men's basketball, and baseball.  Nelson earned the SDIC All-Conference in baseball.  He accumulated an overall of 314-154, the winningest coach in South Dakota history.  That record had never been set in high school football history in the state of South Dakota.

Jeff Rensch (Class of 1992) was introduced by his teammate Mike Katen.  Rensch was one of the top free safeties in Dakota State football program history.  He was a three-time SDIC All-Conference member in 1989, 1990, and 1991.  Rensch collected the NAIA All-America Honorable Mention in his senior season in 1991.

He finished the 1991 season by tying a single season school record of seven interceptions and setting a new career record of 18 interceptions (which was later broken by Noah Guse in 2021).