McKendree University to Induct Outstanding Alumni to Sports Hall of Fame Feb. 15
(LEBANON, Ill., Feb. 6, 2025) - McKendree University will honor accomplished alumni and induct them into the McKendree Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, Feb. 15. The ceremony will take place at the Hettenhausen Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. This year’s winners include Brandi (Branka) Kordelewski of Mascoutah, Ill.; David Warnecke of Aviston, Ill.; A.J. Wentland of Wroclaw, Poland; Lance Ringhausen of Rolla, Mo., and the 1985 women’s volleyball team.
The public is invited to attend the ceremony. Tickets are $20 and may be purchased by visiting the university’s website. Heavy appetizers will be served during the social hour before the ceremony, and a dessert reception will be provided after the ceremony.
A native of Momence, Ill., Brandi (Branka) Kordelewski ‘13 was a standout member of the McKendree University’s women’s bowling team and continues to make her mark in the sport as both a competitor and a coach. As a student-athlete, she played a pivotal role in McKendree’s success, including being a member of the 2011 NAIA Women’s Bowling Championship team, where she earned the title of Most Valuable Player. Her achievements include being a two-time NCBCA First-Team All-American (2011, 2012) and a First-Team All-American at the Intercollegiate Team Championships in 2011. Kordelewski was named to the Intercollegiate Team Championships All-Tournament team in both 2010 and 2012 and ranked third in the NAIA in scoring average (203) during the 2011-12 season. She was also recognized by the Bowling Writers Association of America as Honorable Mention in 2011 and runner-up in 2012.
Following her collegiate success, Kordelewski joined the Professional Women’s Bowling Association (PWBA) Tour in 2016. Her professional accomplishments include runner-up finishes at the 2017 QubicaAMF PWBA Sonoma County Open and the 2019 PWBA East Hartford Regional. She also holds the Illinois state record for the highest three-game series (290. 279, 299). Kordelewski has exceled in coaching, serving as the head women’s bowling coach at Maryville University in St. Louis, Mo. She was named GLVC Women’s Bowling Coach of the Year in 2021 and 2022, as well as MIAA Women’s Bowling Coach of the Year in 2018.
Originally from Breese, Ill., David Warnecke ’78 was a two-sport star for McKendree University, exceling in both baseball and basketball during his collegiate career. A four-year letterman in baseball and a three-year letterman in basketball, Warnecke’s athletic prowess left a lasting legacy at McKendree.
In baseball, Warnecke achieved a remarkable career .348 batting average, including a standout junior season in which he hit .396. As a senior pitcher, he posted an impressive 8-4 win-loss record. His exceptional performance earned him NAIA First-Team All-District and First-Team All-State honors in Illinois in 1978. That same year, he was named McKendree Baseball Team MVP. Warnecke also made history in 1978 as the first McKendree player ever drafted in the MLB, selected in the 44th round by the Cleveland Indians. He went on to play three seasons in their organization, advancing to Double-A level.
A native of Machesney Park, Ill., A.J. Wentland ’17 is one of the most accomplished defensive players in McKendree University football history, leaving an indelible mark on the program. A dominant linebacker, Wentland was a two-time NCAA Division II All-American and the 2016 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Defensive Player of the Year. He holds the McKendree record for career tackles with 421 and was named GLVC Defensive Player of the Week six times during his career. He earned First-Team All-GLVC honors in 2014, 2015 and 2016 and was recognized as a First-Team All-Super Region 4 honoree by the NCAA Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association in 2016. As a finalist for the prestigious 2016 Cliff Harris Award, he was among the top small college defensive players in the nation.
After graduating, Wentland took his talents overseas, embarking on a professional football career in the European Football League. Playing for the Wroclaw Panthers in Poland, he has become a standout linebacker, earning six All-Pro selections and winning three European Championships. In 2024, he set an ELF single-season record with 164 tackles, further solidifying his legacy.
Lance Ringhausen, MBA ‘04 served as the head athletic trainer for McKendree University from 1996-2020 and was a consistent contributor to the athletic program during his time. Ringhausen was a key part of the football and men’s basketball program, providing essential support on gamedays. He did not mis a game in his 24 seasons with the football team.
During his time in Lebanon, Ringhausen supervised athletic training students in the accredited athletic training program. He also traveled internationally with USYS Olympic Development Program (ODP) and was responsible for the athletic coverage for USYS ODP regional summer camps. He is a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association and licensed by the Missouri Board of Healing Arts.
The 1985 women’s volleyball team set a school record with a 40-7 overall record and advanced to the NAIA Championship quarterfinals for the first time in school history. En route to finishing the season ranked fifth in the NAIA rankings, the Bearcats upset the first- and second-ranked teams at the NAIA Championship before losing to the previous year’s national champion. Head coach Liz Crotty-Thomas and assistant coach John Sheehan also helped lead the Bearcats to the NAIA District 20 championship and the Illinois State and Bi-State championships. Team members include Dev Avery, Sharon Bodi, Nancy Frerker, Pat Goestenkors, Lori Junker, Barb Klingelhoefer, Deb Krause, Lori Lehr, Kim Mueller, Linda Parker, Julie Stern and Tami Surmeier.
-McK-
