October 9, 2006

Four Dana College alumni were inducted into the College’s Athletic Hall of Fame at an Alumni Awards Banquet on October 6 at the Dana College campus in Blair. The inductees were Kirk McLaughlin ’72 of Beaver Lake; Joan (Scherbring ’90) Musich of Earling, Iowa; Wayne Peterson ’63 of Cocoa Beach, Fla.; and Mary (Welp ’81) Simms of Glenwood, Iowa.

The Hall of Fame annually recognizes alumni who excelled in athletics while attending Dana. In order to be eligible, a candidate must have participated in and earned a varsity letter in one or more intercollegiate sports while a student at Dana or have made exceptional contributions in time or talent toward improving the College’s athletic programs.

Dana President Janet Philipp and Kirk McLaughlin

McLaughlin was a four-sport athlete and letterwinner at Dana. He participated in football for four years, basketball for three and a half years, and track and baseball for two years each. He excelled in baseball, earning Second Team NAIA District #11 Outfielder, Second Team NIAC and Dana’s Most Valuable Player award in 1972. During his senior year, he was team captain and led individual hitters with a .355 batting average on 32 hits in 90 at bats. In his two years on the baseball team, the Vikings were conference champions the first year and co-champions the next.

McLaughlin graduated in 1972 with a bachelor’s degree in health/physical education. He was a physical education teacher and coach with Omaha Public Schools for 33 years before retiring. He coached 9th grade football, basketball, gymnastics, wrestling and track at Monroe Middle School. He later transferred to Omaha South High School where he was head coach for girls basketball, boys and girls tennis, boys golf and assistant coach for varsity football and baseball. He and his wife, Karen, have two sons, Cory and Mickey, both of whom are married.

Dr. Philipp and Joan Musich

Musich excelled from the pitcher’s mound in her two-year career for Viking softball. While at Dana, she helped the Vikings to undefeated conference records of 12-0 in 1998 and 16-0 in 1989. Her performance on the softball field earned her recognition as NIAC First Team All-Conference and Honorable Mention All-District in 1988 and Dana Most Valuable Player, NIAC First Team All-Conference, and All-District First Team in 1989.

Musich graduated in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in math education and coaching. She went on to earn a Master of Education degree from Wayne State College. She currently teaches middle school math in the Harlan (Iowa) Community School District. Outside of work, she volunteers with Meals on Wheels, and is a member of the St. Boniface Parish Council, Enhancing Education Through Technology and the National Athletic Training Association. She and her husband, Rodney, have two children, twins Luke and Lexi.

Peterson was a top sprinter for the Vikings and a four-year letterwinner in track. During his sophomore year in 1961, he set school and meet records in the men’s 100- and 220-meter dashes at the Tri State conference meet. He continues to rank among the top 10 Dana runners in both of those events. Also in 1961, he helped the 100- and 220-meter and sprint medley relay teams set school and meet records at the Sioux City Relays. In 1962, he was team captain and was selected as the team’s Most Valuable Player.

Peterson is a retired union relations manager with the Boeing Co. He and his wife, Barbara, live in Cocoa Beach, Fla.

Dr. Philipp and Mary Simms

Simms played in national tournaments in basketball and softball at Waldorf Jr. College in Forest City, Iowa, before Head Women’s Basketball Coach Lee Ahrens recruited her to help build the Viking women’s basketball and softball programs. At Dana, she helped the Women’s Basketball Team qualify for the regional tournament in 1981. Her efforts on the court earned her team hustle and most valuable defensive player awards both years she was at Dana. She was also fundamental in helping get Dana’s softball program off the ground. When she transferred to Dana, softball was just a club sport. With her help, the Vikings ended their first season as a varsity sport with a successful 7-1 record.

Simms graduated from Dana in 1981 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. After graduation, she coached high school girls basketball before taking a break from her career to raise her children. She currently teaches third grade in the Glenwood (Iowa) Community School District and coaches middle school basketball and youth soccer. She is active in her community as a church board member, Sunday school teacher, Glenwood Tree Board member, American Cancer Society Relay for Life volunteer and tutor. She and her husband, Scott, a 1981 Dana graduate and 2004 Athletic Hall of Fame inductee, have two children, Rob and Cory.