The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh inducted four new former Titans into the Athletic Hall of Fame May 3 in Reeve Memorial Union.
Amy (Ward) Boos, Dennis Ruedinger, Melissa (Oleson) Tassone and Wendy Wangerin comprise the 2009 additions, bringing the total of inductees to 154.
The UW Oshkosh Hall of Fame was established in 1974 to pay tribute and give deserved recognition to former athletes, coaches and friends of the University. Athletes must have graduated and completed competition 10 years or more prior to consideration.
Amy (Ward) Boos
Amy (Ward) Boos gained admiration as a quiet leader on UW Oshkosh’s women’s volleyball team during the mid-1990s. The Palatine, Ill., native helped bring the Titans to four NCAA Division III postseason appearances and a pair of WIAC titles totaling a 153-31 record.
In her freshman season at right-side hitter, Boos posted 164 kills, 186 assist, 177 digs, 53 service aces and 46 blocks en route to a 33-10 record and a second place finish in the WIAC.
Boos racked up a number of individual awards, including NCAA Division III All-America (second team), NCAA Division III All-Midwest Region and All-WIAC first team honors. Boos capped her playing career as the Titans’ first player to be named the 1996 NCAA Division III Women’s Volleyball Player of the Year.
Currently, Boos is employed by Ball State University as a research compliance administrator, along with husband David, who is head coach of Ball State’s women’s volleyball team.
Dennis Ruedinger
Dennis Ruedinger dominated the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in the mid-1990s.
The Neenah High School alum started 94 games, and by the time his days in a Titan uniform were over, Ruedinger was the fourth-highest scorer in UW Oshkosh history. Among his other athletic accomplishments during his playing days were 227 3-pointers (first place all time), 298 assists (third most) and 73 wins (most wins at the time).
Ruedinger graduated from UW Oshkosh in 1998 and resides in Oshkosh with his wife Kellie and two children Preston and Delaney. He is owner and president of DNR Enterprises.
The basketball skills and lessons he learned as a Titan are being passed down to new generations of players at Oshkosh Lourdes High School, where Ruedinger is the Knights’ head boys basketball coach. In 2004, he coached the Knights to a second place finish in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Division 4 State Tournament.
Melissa (Oleson) Tassone
Melissa (Oleson) Tassone came to the Titans by way of Marinette High School and immediately made an impact as shot putter and 20-pount weight throw athlete.
Tassone won three NCAA Division III indoor titles, two in the 20-pound throw and one in the shot put. Tassone put her talents to use during the outdoor track and field season, winning nine All-America awards, three each in the discus, shot put and hammer throw.
Tassone graduated from UW Oshkosh in 1998 and lives in Hortonville with her husband Tony and children Colin and Riley. She teaches elementary education in the Manawa School District.
Wendy Wangerin
Wendy Wangerin, Waukesha South High School alum, made her mark at UW Oshkosh in women’s basketball, softball and golf. As a center for head coach Kathi Bennett, Wangerin helped the Titans to a 99-14 record and was a member of the 1996 NCAA Division III national championship team.
Wangerin is still the all-time leading scorer at UW Oshkosh, with 1,743 career points. She ranks third in school history with 813 rebounds and is the fourth all-time leading scorer in WIAC history.
On the softball diamond, Wangerin received NCAA Division III All-Midwest Region (third team) honors and All-WIAC (first team) honors in 1996 with five home runs and 38 RBIs.
The following season, Wangerin hit .348 and helped the Titans to the NCAA Division III tournament. She also was part of the Titans inaugural women’s gold team, which took third place at the WIAC Championship.
A 1997 graduate, Wangerin lives in Coachella, Calif., and is the assistant principal at Julius Corsini Elementary School.
Kennan Timm is sports information director with the athletics department. UW Oshkosh faculty, staff and students are encouraged to contribute calendar items, campus announcements and other good news to UW Oshkosh Today.