By Roz Weis,
The Luther College Athletics Department and Hall of Fame committee recently announced its 2023 Hall of Fame Class.
The 10-member class will be officially inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame during a short ceremony on Friday, Oct. 6, with a reception to follow in the Peace Dining Room on Luther’s campus. They will also be recognized during Saturday’s Homecoming festivities, including at the football and soccer games. A complete listing of the Homecoming festivities can be found on the Luther College website.
The 2023 class includes Jessica (Jewell) Tangen (’08), Marta Floyd (’88), Katie (Anderson) Ness (’93), Matt Reinsmoen (’98), Rick Isaacson (’03), Alexander Eganhouse (’08), Tami Magner (’08), Elissa (Schmidt) Cohen (’08), Shari Huber (’13) and former men’s and women’s soccer coach Doug Mello.
In order to be eligible for the Luther Athletics Hall of Fame, individuals must be a graduate of the college with not only an outstanding athletic resume, but an equally impressive professional career post graduation. Initiates must also have graduated 10 years prior to their induction and contributed to community life after graduation. All honorees are selected by the Hall of Fame committee, which is composed of current and former coaches and staff members in the Norse Athletic Department.
The Luther Athletics 2023 Hall of Fame Class (listed by graduation year):
Marta Floyd – Women’s Basketball / Track and Field / Softball – 1988
A multi-sport athlete, Floyd earned a slew of honors during her time with Luther, specifically on the basketball court and on the track. As a member of the Norse women’s basketball team, Floyd earned All-Conference honors in 1987 after leading Luther to the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) Championship and appearance in the NCAA Regional. She closed her career with 588 points, 224 assists and 168 steals and ranked top-5 in both steals and assists upon her graduation from Luther. In addition to her basketball accolades, Floyd earned All-Conference honors in both the 3000 and 10,000 meter runs at the conference track meet and was crowned the IIAC Champion in the 10,000 in 1988.
Katie (Anderson) Ness – Women’s Basketball / Track and Field / Soccer – 1993
Ness was instrumental in Luther women’s basketball’s run to the Final Four in 1992 and additionally earned a slew of honors during her career on the basketball court. A 1992-93 First Team All-Conference honoree, Ness graduated with 710 career points, 264 rebounds, 242 assists and 138 steals and currently ranks No. 2 all-time in career free throw percentage and ninth all-time in career assists. As a member of the Norse track and field team, Ness earned All-Conference honors in the 3000 meter run in 1992 and was a member of the first two varsity women’s soccer teams, scoring nine goals with eight assists for 26 career points.
Matt Reinsmoen – Men’s Soccer – 1998
A multi-year All-Conference honoree, Reinsmoen helped Luther soccer reach new heights, as he played on three IIAC Championship teams and led the Norse to the Elite Eight in 1996. A prominent threat in Luther’s offense, Reinsmoen earned First Team All-Conference honors in 1996 and 1997 and was named the IIAC MVP at the conclusion of the 1997 season. Currently, he ranked top-10 all-time in career points (117), career goals (44) and career assists (29) and ranked third all-time in singles season points (52). After graduating from Luther in 1998, Reinsmoen went on to work for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Rick Isaacson – Men’s Soccer – 2003
Isaacson made quite the impression as the Norse goalkeeper, leading Luther to three IIAC Championships and NCAA Tournament appearances from 2000-2002. A three-time First Team All-Conference honoree, Isaacson was named the IIAC MVP in 2002 and earned Second Team All-Region honors that same season. He currently holds the program record for career shutouts (40) and ranks sixth all-time in Division III history in the same category. He additionally ranks third all-time in career goals against average (GAA), having allowed just 0.87 goals on average in 88 career appearances. Currently, Isaacson serves as the head men’s soccer coach at Simpson College.
Alexander Eganhouse – Swimming and Diving – 2008
Perhaps the best diver in program history, Eganhouse put up staggering numbers during his four-year career with the Norse. Eganhouse was a five-time Liberal Arts Champion, having claimed the 1-meter title in 2006, 2007 and 2008 and the 3-meter title in both 2006 and 2008. Additionally, he was named the Liberal Arts Diving MVP and posted NCAA Regional Qualifying marks all four years of his career. To this day, Eganhouse holds five program records, including 1-meter, 11 dive score (501.35), 1-meter, five voluntary dives score (200.75), 1-meter, six optional dives score (301.65), 1-meter dual list six dives score (298.53) and 3-meter, 11 dive score (526.55).
Jessica (Jewell) Tangen – Women’s Track and Field – 2008
Tangen put together an outstanding resume as a member of the Luther women’s track and field team, earning All-America, All-Conference and All-Region honors during both the Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field seasons. During her four-year career, Tangen was a six-time NCAA Championships qualifier in shot put and discus and a four-time All-American between the two-disciplines. She was also a four-time IIAC Champion in discus and shot put and still holds the program records for indoor shot put, outdoor shot put and outdoor discus, having set all of them in 2008.
Tami Magner – Softball – 2008
Like her peers, Magner earned a slew of awards and led the Norse softball team to multiple conference titles and NCAA Tournaments during her career from 2005-2008. As a catcher and utility player, Magner earned All-Conference, All-Region and All-America honors in both 2007 and 2008 and was a First Team All-American after putting up impressive numbers as a senior in 2008. She hit .371 throughout her Luther career with 171 in 461 at bats. Of those 171 hits, 70 were for extra bases, as Magner hit 33 doubles and a program record 37 home runs in four years with the Norse. She currently ranks second all-time in career slugging percentage (.696) and top-10 all-time in career hits, career RBI (136), career runs scored (129) and career doubles. She additionally accumulated a career fielding percentage of .984 with 833 putouts.
Elissa (Schmidt) Cohen – Swimming and Diving – 2008
Cohen made quite the splash in her four years with Luther’s swimming and diving program, earning All-Conference and All-America honors during her illustrious career. A six-time All-American, 2008 was a year to remember for Cohen, as she earned All-America honors as an individual in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle races and was also a member of the All-American 400 freestyle, 800 freestyle and 200 freestyle relay teams. That same year, Cohen earned her ninth, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th conference championship, claiming first place in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle races along with the 400 medley, 400 freestyle and 800 freestyle relay races. Cohen still holds the program record in the 100 and 200 freestyle and the 400 freestyle relay races.
Shari Huber – Softball – 2013
The lone first ballot inductee, Huber is the lone four-time Division III Softball World Series Championship starter in Head Coach Renae Hartl‘s career. A 2012 NFCA All-American, Huber won the prestigious Johanna Olson Scholar Athlete Award in 2013 and was both a two-time All-Conference honoree and SAAC President. She currently holds the school record in single-season fielding percentage (1.000) and graduated with the school record in career runs (167) and career hits (206)). She still ranks second and third all-time in both respective categories and ranks top-10 in career at bats (517), career triples (10), career doubles (35) and career batting average (.398).
Doug Mello – Head Men’s and Women’s Soccer Coach from 1990-2007
Mello was instrumental in the success and development of Luther soccer, leading both the men’s and women’s programs from 1990-2007. In 18 seasons, Mello posted a combined record of 460-241-40, claiming 10 IIAC titles and making five NCAA Tournament appearances in those years. With the men’s program, Mello won six IIAC Regular Season and Tournament Titles, claiming the conference’s top spot in 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2002. The four-time IIAC Coach of the Year additionally led the men’s team to five NCAA Tournaments and guided the Norse to the Elite Eight in both 1996 and 2001. As the women’s head coach, Mello guided Luther to a 76-19-4 IIAC record and won conference championships in 1996, 1998 and 2004.
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