Alverno Marks 25 Years of Athletics with Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
The Alverno College Department of Athletics has announced the newest inductees to the Alverno Athletics Hall of Fame, including two former student-athletes and two trailblazers. This class of hall-of-famers marks the seventh in its 15-year history.
Alumnae Katie Renteria ’13, a tenacious cross-country runner, and Ashlie Vojvodich-Rossi ’18, a former softball two-way star, will be inducted along with Alverno College President Emerita Mary Meehan, PhD, and Sister Marlene Neises, OSF, executive director of Institutional Effectiveness.
Each of the honorees will be recognized with a commemorative piece, and their names will be added to the Alverno College Athletics Hall of Fame, located just outside the Reiman Gymnasium.
"I am truly ecstatic about this year's class and their induction into our Hall of Fame,” said Director of Athletics, Antonio Rivas, “To have two talented former student-athletes and two very influential trailblazers in the same class is a great cause for celebration. As we move forward and usher in a new era of Alverno Athletics, this is a great way to celebrate all who have helped pave the way and honor them accordingly."
The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on Saturday, April 25, and coincides with events celebrating the 25th anniversary of Alverno College Athletics. The schedule for the day includes:
- 10 a.m. – Hall of Fame induction ceremony in La Verna Commons
- 11:30 a.m. – Food Truck Tailgate in Parking Lot C, Athletic Fields
- noon & 2 p.m. – Alverno College Softball vs. Concordia Wisconsin at the Alverno Softball Field
Several events are also occurring throughout the weekend for “Celebrate at Alverno”.
To register for the Hall of Fame Event and view the Celebrate at Alverno weekend events online, please visit alverno.edu/celebrate-weekend.
About the inductees
Katie Crawford (Renteria) is one of only two cross country runners in program history to have earned All-Conference honors, with her All-Northern Athletics Conference (NAC) Second Team honors in 2009, cementing her place as one of the best runners in Alverno history.
Crawford’s career was highlighted by her performance in the 2009 Northern Athletic Conference Championship at Concordia Wisconsin, when she finished 17th and was the first Inferno runner across the line, beating out fellow Hall-of-Famer Sarah Olson, who finished 19th. Crawford’s time of 25:35.00 in the race was nearly her best career time in the 6k, which she set a few weeks earlier at Ripon when she ran a time of 25:34.00. The times ranked eighth and ninth in program history, trailing only times by Olson. Crawford has the eighth fastest race in program history in the 5k, with a time of 22:09.00 at Beloit in 2010.
Ashlie Vojvodich-Rossi completed her standout career with the Inferno in 2018 and ranks among the softball program’s best hitters and pitchers in its 25-year history. As a freshman, she was named to the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) All-Freshman Team, posting a career-best batting average of .383 in 40 games played, while accumulating 49 hits and 31 RBI over 40 games. She was named Team MVP in 2015 and 2016, while also earning Finlandia Dome All-Tournament honors.
Vojvodich-Rossi’s 156 career hits and 212 career total bases rank third all-time at the time of her induction, trailing only fellow softball Hall-of-Famers Stef Wilmore and Ashleigh Sagat, while her .364 career batting average ranks seventh. Over her career, she also accumulated a .406 on-base percentage and a .495 slugging percentage, both top 10 marks, while adding 80 RBI’s and 36 doubles, both of which are top five marks in program history.
In the circle, Vojvodich-Rossi was a key contributor as well, as she ranks in the top ten of every recorded record. In 72 career appearances and 52 starts, she tallied 20 wins, 34 complete games, seven shutouts, and a 3.98 ERA. Her three shutouts in both 2016 and 2017 still stand as program records for a single season.
Mary Meehan, PhD, President Emerita of Alverno College, was a driving force behind the growth and development of the College’s athletics and campus facilities. Her leadership was instrumental in advancing the College through numerous major projects, including a $30 million capital campaign, one of the most significant milestones of her career, which she successfully surpassed, raising $32.8 million to support academic and campus enhancements. The project is one of the most significant enhancements in the college’s history, in its over one hundred years of existence.
Under Meehan’s presidency, Alverno saw substantial campus improvements, including new NCAA athletic fields, enhanced landscaping, upgraded roadways, and the addition of Reiman Plaza in 2006. Clare Hall was renovated in 2008 to expand on-campus living, and the 2014 expansion created a state-of-the-art classroom building, a nursing simulation center, and a larger student commons to enrich the student experience.
Meehan’s support of athletics helped grow Alverno’s NCAA Division III program to seven sports and 80 student-athletes from across the Midwest. She also served on the NCAA Division III Chancellors/Presidents Council, leaving a lasting impact on both the College and collegiate athletics.
Sister Marlene Neises, OSF has been a dedicated leader and champion of Alverno Athletics throughout her more than 40 years of service to the college. As executive director of Institutional Effectiveness and a member of the senior administration team, Marlene has played an integral role in shaping the institution while remaining a steadfast supporter of its athletic programs.
Since the inception of Alverno Athletics 25 years ago, Neises has taken a strong interest in the program’s growth and development, consistently advocating for its success and impact on student-athletes. A familiar and enthusiastic presence, she can be found at nearly every home athletic event, embodying the spirit and support that have helped fuel the continued rise of Inferno Athletics.
Categories: Press Release
