Hall of Fame
The 1984 men’s soccer team had a first-year head coach in Rick Kilps and only nine returning players on its roster. Three junior college transfers and nine freshmen were brought in and this group went on to post a 14-3-3 regular season record, with all three losses coming to NCAA Division I schools.
The team was the only UW-Parkside soccer squad ever to reach the NAIA national tournament. The Rangers won their first ever NAIA Area title, beating Sangamon State University, 2-1, in the championship match. UW-Parkside blanked Concordia St. Paul, 5-0, in the semi-final. Their reward was a trip to the NAIA national tournament in Fresno, California, where its stellar season ended. Only 12 out of 240 teams advanced to the national tournament and the Rangers were a part of the elite dozen.
Members of the team include Wayne Adema, Andrew Buchanan, Richard Blay, Dave Dahlke, Steve Donovan, Jeff Fischer, Scott Gerhartz, Ed Herrera, Jeff Medin, Tony Pinkert, Jose Ramirez, Michael Riva, Mike Robertson, Charles Rodriguez, John Scanlan, Chris Schuleit, Jim Spielmann, Don Theisen, George Vuckovich and Greg Whipple.
