HONOR THE PAST — FEATURE 1:
HAYLEY (WIEMER) BRADFORD
After putting together one of the most decorated careers in the history of Falcon Athletics, Hayley (Wiemer) Bradford had aspirations of entering the coaching ranks, or possibly working as a teacher.
Today, the former four-time, first-team All Mid-American Conference softball player is essentially doing just that — coaching and teaching — from her position as an academic advisor at Arizona State University.
HONOR THE PAST — FEATURE 2:
VALERIE NEWELL
Managing multiple portfolios worth millions of dollars in a consistently volatile financial market would appear to be a challenge fraught with stress and intense pressure.
But for Valerie Newell, that is essentially another day at the office in her role as the chairman of RiverPoint Capital Management.
She trusts her education, training and skill set, as well as her drive and the sound counsel and advice she has received during a highly successful career as an investment advisor. Those same general elements — instruction, training, talent, motivation and coaching — made her an exceptional student and a two-time All-American swimmer at BGSU.
HONOR THE PAST — FEATURE 3:
STEPHANIE HELDT-SHELLER
All-American track and field athlete Stephanie Heldt-Sheller challenged the high jump bar throughout her BGSU career, and came out on top. She led her team in the event, advancing to the NCAA indoor track and field championship in 1999 and the outdoor championships in 1999 and 2001.
Today she faces different obstacles and loftier heights in her role as the Corporate Environmental Manager at Northwest Pipe Company (NWP) in Portland, Ore.
HONOR THE PAST — FEATURE 4:
DENISE VAN DE WALLE
Van De Walle's 29 years leading the Falcon Volleyball program are filled with vivid and priceless memories, such as the Falcons’ victory over Western Michigan in November 1989 that ended an incredible streak of 98 straight conference wins.
"My parents were in the stands and they hadn't been to a home match to see me coach," said Van De Walle. "History was made as we snapped the longest winning streak in the nation that day."
HONOR THE PAST — FEATURE 5:
MARNY OESTRENG
It took quite a leap for Marny Oestreng-Unnli to end up competing as a member of the Falcon Gymnastics team. The native of Norway had to fly through six time zones and traverse some 4,000 miles, give or take a few kilometers, just to reach the BG campus.
Now, some 18 years after Oestreng became Bowling Green's only gymnastics national champion, the distance seems all so insignificant. She recalls stepping off the airplane, and quickly becoming a Falcon for life.
HONOR THE PAST — FEATURE 6:
GINNY MCGEE BENEKE
As a Falcon, Ginny McGee Beneke excelled in sports that demanded constant motion. Four decades after she ended a brilliant two-sport run at BGSU, there is every indication she has taken that same approach in her business career.
McGee, who played four years of lacrosse and three years of field hockey, earned a business degree from Bowling Green and then went on to add an MBA in marketing from George Washington University.
HONOR THE PAST — FEATURE 7:
THE CHIRICOSTA FAMILY
Sheila Chiricosta coached the Bowling Green women's tennis team for three seasons, and in her final year in 1990 she led the Falcons to what was then a school record 15 wins.
Years later, her daughters — Christine and Nikki Chiricosta — became Falcons themselves. The sisters went on to be two of the most decorated tennis players in program history, thus cementing the Chiricosta family as a BGSU Tennis dynasty.
HONOR THE PAST — FEATURE 8:
THE SWEET 16 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM
A decade has passed since their historic Sweet Sixteen run in the NCAA Tournament, but the memories have only become more cherished and the images more vivid for the players and coaches of that historic 2006-07 team.
"We were a bunch of blue-collar kids that learned the benefits of working together from a great coaching staff, and it produced something truly amazing," said Liz Honegger, who in her senior year, helped BGSU go 31-4 and notch notable wins in that memorable tournament run.
Updated: 12/01/2017 11:39PM