Athletics Department Friday, July 24, 2015 WIU Athletic Communications

Western Illinois Announces 2015 Hall of Fame Class

Four individuals to join the Hall of Fame on October 2-3

MACOMB, Ill. – Western Illinois University Athletics announced the 2015 Hall of Fame class. Four former student-athletes will be inducted during the Hall of Fame/Homecoming weekend on October 2-3.

Tony Bresky (Men's Tennis), Jen (Dockemeyer) Hogan (Volleyball), Mark Kaczmarek (Football) and Dr. Justin Langan (Men's Soccer/Football) were selected for their outstanding record of performance while representing Western Illinois Athletics.

"The achievements of Tony, Jen, Mark and Justin distinguished them from an outstanding class of nominations," said interim director of athletics Matt Tanney. "The strength of the inductees' credentials is indicative of the historical success of Leatherneck Athletics. We look forward to welcoming all four back to campus for Homecoming weekend."

The induction ceremony will take place on Friday, October 2, at the Grand Ballroom inside the University Union. The four inductees will be honored during halftime of the Leathernecks' football game on October 3 against Southern Illinois.

To be considered for selection into the Western Illinois University Athletic Hall of Fame, an individual must fall into one of the following areas and qualify as the criteria in that area describes. All candidates must have been nominated for consideration, and receive 100 percent support from the final selection committee.

Athletes, Coaches, and Administrators
The athlete/coach/administrator nominee must qualify under one of the following:
- Be a student at Western Illinois University at least two years.
- Be a graduate of Western Illinois University.
- Be a coach at Western Illinois University.
- Be an athletic administrator.

The inductee must have had an outstanding record while performing in athletics at Western Illinois University. Athletes are eligible for admission into the Hall of Fame 10 years after their athletic eligibility expires or they graduate. Western Illinois University coaches and administrators are eligible for admission to the Hall of Fame immediately upon their retirement or five years after leaving employment at WIU.

For ticket information to the event contact the WIU Athletic Department at (309) 298-1190.

Tony Bresky (Men's Tennis 1993-94 – 1996-97)
Tony Bresky remains as the Western Illinois men's tennis all-time leader in victories. A two-time Mid-Continent Conference 'Player of the Year' (1995 and 1997), he earned All-Conference honors all four years. He helped the Leathernecks win back-to-back Mid-Con Tournament titles in 1995 and 1996. During his senior year, playing for two-time Mid-Continent Conference (now Summit League) 'Coach of the Year' Art Peterson, Western won 15 matches - which still ranks in a tie for seventh-most win in Summit League season history.

Bresky holds the season records for singles victories (27) and combined victories (51). His 89 career wins in singles play and 181 combined wins (singles and doubles) still rank first in the WIU record books.

A former ITA National 'Assistant Coach of the Year' in 2005 at Virginia, Bresky served as the head coach at Cornell in 2011 leading the Big Red to their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth. He took over at Wake Forest in the following fall and returned the Demon Deacons to a 'Top 25' program ranking. Bresky was named the Atlantic Coast Conference 'Coach of the Year' in 2013, leading Wake Forest back to the NCAA Tournament. Last spring Wake Forest won its first two NCAA Tournament matches before falling in the 'Sweet 16'. One of Bresky's players advanced to the NCAA Singles Championship finals.

Jennifer (Dockemeyer) Hogan (Volleyball 1996-1999)
Jennifer (Dockemeyer) Hogan currently stands in volleyball history as one of two players all-time to earn All-Mid-Continent Conference honors all four years. She was a two-time First Team selection in 1997 and 1999, and earned Second Team accolades in 1996 and 1998.

Hogan also accomplished the rare feat of leading the squad in blocks all four years (one of two players to accomplish that), and led the team in kills her final three seasons (only player to lead that category for three consecutive years). She ranks third all-time in WIU history in kills (1,260), hitting percentage (.264), solo blocks (99), career blocks (406) and second in career block assists (307).

During her career, Hogan set – and still holds – the single-match record of 10 solo blocks against Northeastern Illinois, and her 19 blocks that match are the second-most by a WIU player in a match. She also ranks third in the single-match leaders with 10 block assists versus Kansas City.

Mark Kaczmarek (Football 1969-72)
A four-year letterwinner as an offensive lineman, Kaczmarek helped Western to a 32-9 record during his career under WIU and College Football Hall of Fame coach Darrell Mudra. Kaczmarek joins 13 of his teammates (during his four-year career) in getting inducted to the Athletic Department Hall of Fame.

Kaczmarek was a 1972 All-American selection and he signed a contract with the World Football League two years later. During his freshman year in 1969, the Leathernecks went undefeated and won the final IIAC Conference title.

His offensive line coach, and future WIU head coach, was Hall of Famer Brodie Westen. After graduation and his playing career, Kaczmarek began a successful career coaching high school football. He became a three-time regional 'Coach of the Year' (1984-85 in Nebraska, 1997 in Iowa) award winner and four times was a finalist as the Class 4A Eastern Iowa 'Coach of the Year'.

In three years as the head coach at Beatrice (Neb.) High School, he led the team to the first-ever playoff appearance and first winning season in 13 years. After a three-year stint at Dixon HS, he continued his football coaching career at Davenport Assumption. Kaczmarek's squad qualified for postseason 11-of-12 times, went undefeated three times and won six MAC Championships. He has served as an assistant coach at Assumption since the fall of 2007.

Dr. Justin Langan (Football 2001-04; Men's Soccer 2000-03)
A two-sport standout in football and men's soccer, Langan holds the distinction of earning College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America honors a WIU record four times (all three years of eligibility in soccer, one time in football). In 2004, Langan was chosen as the Mid-Continent Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

He earned All-Mid Continent Conference honors four times in soccer, helping the 2000 team win the Mid-Con regular season title. Langan earned a spot on the 2002 Mid-Con All-Tournament Team. He finished his career tied for the program record with nine career multi-goal games, and ranked third in points (82), goals scored (32) and assists (18).

Among the season 'Top 10', Langan still ranks ninth in points, tied for eighth in goals, tied for fifth in assists and twice is ranked eighth in game-winning goals. He still owns the program record for most goals (3) and points (6) in a conference tournament game.

After sitting out the 2000 season in football, Langan began his football career in 2001 and was a four-year starter for the Leathernecks. Until recently he held the NCAA record for most kicking points in a season. A three-time All-Gateway Conference selection, Langan was also a three-time First Team Academic All-Gateway selection. Twice in his football career he picked up First Team All-American accolades.

Langan owns virtually every season and career kicking record – field goals, extra points and points scored. He ranks first and second in the season leaderboard in both the extra points and scoring categories.

After graduation from Western, Langan began medical school at UMKC. He was a Junior AOA member and served as class President and Surgeon Society President. In 2011, he joined the Greenville (S.C.) Health System University Medical Center doing his Orthopaedic surgery internship and residency.

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