SIOUX FALLS – Seven individuals with ties to the University of Sioux Falls and the school's NAIA national championship football teams from 2008 and 2009 will be inducted into the USF Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday, Oct. 12 during ceremonies at the Country Club of Sioux Falls (3400 West 22nd Street, Sioux Falls, SD 57105). The seven inductees and two teams in the Class of 2018 raises the USF Hall of Fame list to 56.

The inductees will include Anna Barnes Reynolds, Women's Cross Country/Track and Field, 1993-96, Chancellor, S.D.; Herb Buckner, men's basketball, 1966-70, Los Mochas, Ariz.; Mary Fouberg Thum, Women's Cross Country/Track and Field, 2002-05, Sioux Falls, S.D.; Dustan Hovorka, Football, 2003-06, Maryland Heights, Mo.; Todd Kelsey, Men's Basketball, 1977-81, Cary, N.C.; James Pehringer, Football, 1987-90, Cody, Wyo.; and late Ron Eiesland of Canton, S.D. In addition, USF will induct the 2008 and 2009 USF Football Teams that won NAIA national titles.
 
The Hall of Fame dinner ceremony will begin with a social hour, including a cash bar and heavy hors d'oeuvres, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., followed by the induction ceremony.   The "Voice of the Cougars" Tom Frederick will serve as master of ceremonies. USF President Brett Bradfield will give a welcome to those attending the Hall of Fame ceremony. USF Athletics Hall of Fame Committee member Mindy Veltkamp will address the banquet. In addition, USF Interim Director of Athletics Pam Gohl will update attendees on USF Athletics and present inductees with a gift.

The inductees and two football teams will also be recognized at halftime of the USF-St. Cloud State game on Saturday, Oct. 13 at Bob Young Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
For those attending, induction banquet/game ticket package will be available for $30. Individuals choosing to attend only the game can purchase football game tickets for $15 for general admission and $20 for reserved. Others wishing to attend only the banquet, may purchase a ticket for $20. Click here to purchase banquet/game tickets.
 
USF Football NAIA Championship Teams – 2008, 2009
 
Directed by head coach Kalen DeBoer, now offensive coordinator at Fresno State and a USF Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, the 2008 and 2009 USF championship football teams rank among the best all-time at the NAIA level. The teams won 29 straight games, outscored opponents 44.3-to-8.3, had a 447.51-to-161.72 yards in total offense per game advantage (6.38-to-2.8 per play), ), totaled 7,141 rushing yards, 175 TDs, including 21 by special teams and defense; 68 sacks, 44 interceptions and 28 fumble recoveries. Combined the two teams had 12 first or second team All-Americans. In addition, USF had a combined 38 All-Great Plains Conferece selections, including 19 first-team honorees.
 
Since winning back-to-back titles, no NAIA team has replicated that accomplishment. Defensive coordinator Chuck Morrell and quarterback coach Kurtiss Riggs, both USF Athletics Hall of Fame members, were on the coaching staff as was current USF Head Football Coach Jon Anderson. 

 

2008 NAIA national champions -- The Cougars (14-0) and won the school's third NAIA National Championship in 2008 with a 23-7 decision over No. 1 Carroll College. The No. 2 Cougars, which had also won titles in 1996 and 2006, ended a 28-game winning streak by Carroll College, a team that had won five the previous six national crowns. In the win, USF built a 10-0 lead when the Defensive Player of the Game Kyle Cummings blocked a punt which was recovered in the end zone by Joe Moen. Offensive Player of the Game Lorenzo Brown had a 54-yard TD pass to Jon Ryan and rushed for 129 yards. In 2008, USF had one of the nation's top defenses and accumulated seven shutouts, and, except for a safety in a 34-2 win over Dordt, it would have been eight. In total, USF held 11-of-14 opponents to seven points or less in a game..

In the playoffs, the Cougars defeated No. 15 St. Ambrose, 28-0; No. 9 Langston University, 50-13; No. 3 St. Francis, 24-6 and No. 1 Carroll College, 23-7 for a differential of 125-to-26. USF, which averaged 404.6 yards per game, had a 36.5-to-5.9 points per game differential. In rushing defense, they held opponents to 14.7 yards per game and 0.6 yards per rush attempt. One of the more intriguing stats is that the USF defense gave up just 206 net yards on 349 carries for the entire 14-game season. In fact, the defense recorded 538 yards in losses as they held opponents to a measly 2.2 yards per play and 109.4 total yards per game.  USF's dominating defense recorded 35 sacks, intercepted 20 passes and recovered 11 fumbles. 

 

2009 NAIA national champions -- In 2009, USF, led by NAIA Player of the Year Lorenzo Brown (3,221 passing yards, 40 TDs, 844 rushing yards, and 16 TDs) rolled to a school-record 15-0 mark with a second straight NAIA title. In the championship game, No. 1 USF defeated No. 3 Lindenwood, 25-22, in the title game. USF's offense that rolled up a school record 775 points or 51.7 points per game. Thirteen times, USF scored 44 or more points in a contest.
 
The Cougars opened the playoffs first round with a 63-21 victory over No. 14 Minot State. USF rolled up 318 rushing yards, including 136 rushing yards by Ryan Lowmiller. In the next round, USF registered a 49-21 victory over No. 7 Morningside to advance to the NAIA semifinals. Against Morningside, USF recorded 492 yards in total offense with Lowmiller rushing for 146 yards and Kristian Porter with 132 rushing yards. In the NAIA semifinals, No. 1 USF upended No. 4 Saint Xavier, 48-6. USF had 528 yards in total offense with 324 on the ground. Lowmiller rushed for 161 yards and Lorenzo Brown added 133. Brown also threw for 204 yards with three TDs. Lowmiller rushed for over 100 yards in the final five games of the season, which included all four playoff games.
 
In the championship game at Rome Ga., the Cougars rallied from a seven-point third quarter deficit as Lowmiller's TD and a 42-yard field goal by Braden Wieking (9:50 to play) lifted USF to a second straight title. Wieking was named offensive player of the game with three field goals (42, 41,37), two extra points and a 44-yard punt. Junior linebacker Dominic Studzinski was defensive player of the game with seven tackles and two sacks.

In 2009, USF rolled up 256.1 yards per game rushing (3,842 yards) or 6.1 yards per carry.  They added 231.4 yards per game passing with 3,471 yards or 487.5 total yards per game (7.4 yards per play). The defense was one of the best in school history and allowed just 10.5 points per game and 210.5 total yards per game. USF gave up just seven rushing TDs and 63.8 rushing yards per game during the memorable season.
 
Ron Eiesland, Special Contributor

Ron Eiesland was a major contributor and supporter of the University of Sioux Falls Athletics Department until his death on Feb. 24, 2015. He was a major contributor to the Stewart Center renovations, including an air cooling system.

Eiesland's gifts helped fund the complete replacement of spectator seating and basketball goal standards. The facility updates enhanced the game atmosphere for student-athletes and fans alike. Eiesland regularly attended area collegiate games, including nearly every USF game, and supported athletics at a significant level.

The basketball floor at the Stewart Center was named "The Ron Eiesland Court" in his honor in 2012.

Born on November 19, 1936 on a farm near Inwood, Iowa, to Olaf and Gladys (Huckfeldt) Eiesland, he attended country school and graduated from Canton High School in 1954.

Eiesland farmed with his father until his dad's death in 1956. Eiesland had one sister, Maureen VanDenTop, who passed in 2017. She was the mother of Jason VanDenTop, who with his wife Jaci and family, continue to farm in the Canton area. Eiesland served in the South Dakota Air National Guard for six years and was a member of St. Dominic's Catholic Church and member of Holy Spirit in Sioux Falls. 
 
Anna Barnes Reynolds, Women's Cross Country/Track and Field, 1993-96

Originally of Homer, Neb., Barnes Reynolds was a standout performer for USF. She set or tied seven indoor indoor or outdoor school records in cross country/track and field. While competing for the Cougars, she set indoor marks in 500 meters (1:21.16, 1993), 600 meters (1:31.58, 1995), 800 meters (2:18.59, 1995) and as a member of the distance medley relay (13:34.90, 1996).

Barnes Reynolds, who ran for head coaches Scott Kieffer and Rich Greeno, remains ranked fourth all-time in the 600-meter run (1:35.50, 1995) and sixth in the 800-meters (2:18.59). She became USF's first women's runner to crack 2:20 in the 800-meters and set USF's outdoor 800-meters mark of 2:17.62 in 1995. 
 
A nine-time national qualifier, she captured the 800-meters crown and was part of the winning 4x400-meter relay team at the South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference (SDIC) Championships in 1995-96. Barnes Reynolds also won the 800-meter title and was a member of the 4x400-meter relay team on USF's squad at the SDIC Outdoor Championships in 1996. She clocked a 43:29 in the 10,000 meters for fourth all-time at USF and had an 18:33 5,000-meter clocking, a time that was second at USF when she was in school. At graduation, she owned the fourth-best 800-meter clocking in school history.

Barnes Reynolds, who earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and sociology at USF in 1996, was also a member of two SDIC cross country squads.

Anna attended Southeast Technical and took classes in horticulture and landscape design. She also worked at Trail Ridge Retirement Community. Anna and her husband Patrick Reynolds live in Chancellor, S.D., with their three children: Joel, Hannah and Guillermo. She is a home school mom and involved in Bible Study Fellowship at Faith Baptist Fellowship. 
 
Herb Buckner, Men's Basketball, 1966-70
Now of Los Mochos, Ariz., Herb Buckner ranks as one of the best men's basketball players in school history. Originally of Detroit, Michigan, he ranks eighth all-time at USF in men's basketball scoring with 1,633 points.

 

A 6-1, 175-pound guard/forward, he also accumulated 623 rebounds which placed him in USF's top-20 all-time. Buckner, who also finished his career in the top-10 in assists at USF, led the Cougars to a 71-27 record which included a 20-8 mark as a senior. Buckner, who wore No. 30, prepped at Northwestern High School in Detroit, Michigan, and led his team to a public school league title.

As a senior at USF, Buckner averaged 23.4 points per game. He scored 655 points, a total which remains the third most points scored in a season at USF. In 1969-70, he played in 28 games as he made 257-of-570 field goals for 45.1 percent. He led USF to the Tri-State Conference crown in a 20-8 season under the direction of Coach R.E. (Dutch) Erickson. In that season, USF scored over 90 points in a game nine times as Buckner delivered shot after shot. He finished his senior season 141-of-213 at the foul line and gathered up 234 rebounds.
 
As a junior in 1968-69 under Coach Steve Schoenherr, USF was 17-7 as Buckner scored 502 points or 20.8 points per game over 24 games. He added 7.3 rebounds (174 total rebounds), made 198-of-394 field goals for 50.3 percent and 106-of-163 free throws.
 
Buckner was also stellar at USF as a sophomore in 1967-68 and led the squad to an 18-6 overall mark. He averaged 17.0 points per game (419 points) and 7.0 rebounds per game (190 rebounds). Buckner played on the same team as two other USF Hall of Famers in Ron Krayl and Roger Heibult.

As a true freshman, he played in 17-of-24 games and averaged 3.1 points (53) and 1.5 rebounds (25) for the 1966-67 squad. Buckner, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education at USF in 1970, was an educator and coach in the Detroit area before he retired.
 
Mary Fouberg Thum, Women's Cross Country/Track and Field, 2002-05

Originally of Mount Vernon, S.D., Mary Fouberg Thum was a standout middle distance performer for USF from 2002-05. She was a two-time NAIA All-American in the 800-meters in 2003 and the 1,000-meters in 2004.

Fouberg Thum, who was also All-Great Plains Conference in cross country in 2004-05, was a member of USF's 4x800-meter squad in 2002, which clocked a time of 9:29.73. She set a school record in the outdoor 800-meters in 2:14.04. In 2005, she ran a school record 2:57.10 in the 1,000-meters.

Fouberg, who received a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science in 2005 from USF, was part of the 2002 indoor 4x800-meter relay that qualified for nationals.

She earned a Master of Science degree in Sports Science at South Dakota State University (SDSU) while also serving as a volunteer coach for SDSU cross country and track and field head coach Rodney DeHaven.

She and her husband, Daniel, live in Rochester, Minn., where both of them work at the Mayo Clinic. She is a research protocol specialist in Cardiovascular Research and he is a pediatric anesthesiologist.  They have two sons, Jackson and Targhee.
 

Dustan Hovorka, Football, WR, 2003-06
A native of McCook Lake, S.D., Dustan Hovorka ranks as arguably the best wide receiver in school history. Hovorka, who helped lead USF's to a second NAIA football national title in 2006, also coached on two USF NCAA DII playoff teams (2015, 2016) and USF's 2014 team that won the Mineral Water Bowl (Central Oklahoma, 42-10).

 

A three-time All-American, Hovorka, who owns a school mark for longest receiving TD at 91 yards, recorded 1,000 yards receiving in all four of his seasons and still owns 12 school records at USF. Hovorka is the only player in school history with three receiving games of 200 yards or more. He is the only USF wide receiver to record double digits in receiving TDs for four straight years. With 4,801 receiving yards, he had 1,339 yards more than Jon Ryan (2007-10, 3,462 yards), who is second all-time. Hovorka had 291 receptions or 57 more than second place and USF Hall of Famer Kalen DeBoer with 234. Of Hovorka's 58 career TDs (4th all-time), 55 occurred as a receiver which set a school record.

With major contributions from Hovorka, the Cougars had a combined 48-4 record from 2003-06 with a NAIA title in the 14-1 season in 2006 when Hovorka had 76 receptions for 1,304 yards and a school record 19 TDs. The 2003 team finished 12-1 and reached the national semifinals (16-13 loss to Northwest Oklahoma State) as Hovorka had 66 receptions for 1,174 yards and 11 TDs. In 2004, the Cougars finished 11-1 with a bid for a perfect season ending in a 24-3 loss to Azusa Pacific in the playoffs. Hovorka had 76 receptions for 1,191 yards and 11 TDs to lead the offense in the 2004 season. In 2005, the Cougars, which were led by Hovorka's 73 catches for 1,132 yards and 14 TDs, reached the national semifinals before falling to Carroll College in an 11-2 season.

Hovorka, who prepped at Dakota Valley, played six seasons for the Sioux Falls Storm in the IFL. He retired as a player to entering coaching in 2013. He joined USF and served as a wide receivers coach, recruiting coordinator and offensive coordinator from 2014-16 when USF finished 32-5 with the school's first-ever NSIC conference title in 2016. He mentored 17 student-athletes, who earned all-league honors, had two All-Americans. He helped coach USF to the playoffs twice and postseason three times. Hovorka, who has a degree in exercise science in 2008 from USF, is now offensive coordinator at Lindenwood University.  He is married to Kari Keating and lives in Maryland Heights, Mo.

Todd Kelsey, Men's Basketball, 1977-81
 
Todd Kelsey ranks as one of the most prolific scorers in University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball history. He ranks fifth on the USF career scoring list with 1,696 points.
 
A 6-5 forward, Kelsey finished second in the South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference (SDIC) in scoring as a senior (18.8 in league play, 226 points) and totaled 100 rebounds or 8.3 per game for fourth in the league.
 

Kelsey, a two-time All-SDIC selection (1979-80, 1980-81), was named an NAIA Academic All-American as a senior when he earned his third straight team MVP award.  In that season, he had 12 games of 20 points or more, including games of 35, 33 and 40 (S.D. Tech) points. Overall that season, he totaled 546 points with 207 field goals (392 attempts), 145 free throws (186 attempts), 211 rebounds and 54 assists. In his junior season, he averaged 18.7 points (487) and 7.6 rebounds (198) per game. He supplied 15.4 points (400) and 5.1 rebounds (134) per game in his sophomore campaign. As a freshman, he made a big impact with 10.9 points (250) and 5.4 (125) rebounds per game.
 
Prior to arriving on campus, he was a first team all-state performer in 1977 from Sioux Falls Lincoln High School. In 1981, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Mathematics from USF. While on campus, he was a Purple Feather recipient and active with the American Chemistry Society which included the South Dakota division.
 
Kelsey, whose job title is IBM Alaska Senior State Executive and IBM Content Services, and his wife, Mary, live in Cary, N.C. Todd and Mary have three children - Elizabeth, John and Katherine.

Jim Pehringer, RB, Football, 1987-90

One of the greatest running backs in University of Sioux Falls school history, two-time honorable mention All-American (1988-89) Jim Pehringer is ranked ninth in career scoring (298 points) and sixth in total TDs (49) at USF.

 

A native of Sheridan, Wyo., Pehringer ranks second in career rushing attempts (847) and fourth in rushing yards (3,454) at USF. When he left USF, he ranked first in career rushing yards. During his time with the program, Pehringer was named to the NAIA All-District Team in both 1989 and 1990. He led USF to a 26-13 record and the 1988 team was 10-1. Led by Pehringer, the 1988 team became USF's first football team to qualify for the NAIA playoffs.

In his final three years, USF compiled a record of 23-7-1. In 1988, Pehringer had 335 carries for 1,416 yards (single season mark at the time) and 14 TDs. A year later (1989), he had 189 carries for 891 yards and 14 TDs. A three-time All-South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference (SDIC) selection (1988-90), he was selected team MVP in both 1988 and 1990.

Pehringer earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology/Animal Science from USF in 1991 and serves as superintendent of Gail Construction Company in Cody, Wyoming. He spent 26 years as a wildlife biologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He and his wife Jennifer have a daughter Josey and son Tate, as well as a grandson Roman Liam.