MINNEAPOLIS -- As part of Augsburg University's Homecoming week, eight alumni will be inducted into the university's Athletic Hall of Fame, and one other will be honored with an award for athletic department excellence, during the 2023 Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony, to be held on Thursday, Oct. 12 at the Foss Chapel.

Inductees into the 50th class of the Athletic Hall of Fame are: Emily (Anderson) Higgins '07 (Soccer/Basketball), Jaro Cesky '03 (Hockey), Ben Erickson '96 (Golf), Daniel Lewandowski '97 (Wrestling/Soccer), Jamie Osberg '95 (Football), Jim Peterson '99 (Wrestling/Football), Jeoffrey Reed '00 (Basketball) and Ellen (Waldow) Cullen '06 (Cross Country/Track & Field). In addition, former Augsburg instructor and coach Howard "Howie" Pearson '53 will be honored with the Legend of Augsburg Athletics Award.

The nine inductees bring the total number of Athletic Hall of Fame members to 354, along with one team. In addition, 14 individuals have been honored with the department's Distinguished Athletic Service Award, 10 individuals have earned the department's Excellence in Coaching Award, and two individuals have earned the Legend of Augsburg Athletics Award.

2023 AUGSBURG ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME CLASS

Emily (Anderson) Higgins '07 (Soccer / Basketball) All-MIAC in 2005 and 2004, All-MIAC Honorable Mention in 2006 … Played in 71 games in career, with 28 goals (6th in school history), 20 assists (t-10th) for 76 points (6th) … 8 goals-6 assists--22 points in 2003, 8G-4A--20P in 2004, 8G-8A--24P in 2005, 4G-2A--10P in 2006 … MIAC Athlete of the Week on 9/21/04 … Voted team's Most Outstanding Offensive Player in 2003, Auggie Award in 2004 … Played one season of basketball (2003-04) … CoSIDA Academic All-District 3rd team in 2005 … Academic All-MIAC in 2004.

Jaro Cesky '03 (Hockey) 4-time All-MIAC forward (1999-2003) … MIAC Player of the Year and AHCA Division III All-America first team in 2002-03 … Played in 102 career games (53-42-9 in his career), with 63 goals and 77 assists for 140 points, with 13 power-play goals, 4 shorthanded goals and 6 game-winning goals … Plus-67 career plus-minus rating … Led team in scoring each year of his career … Scored 14-plus goals each year of his career, including 17 in 2001-02 season and 18 in 2002-03 season … Career-best 18 goals and 24 assists for 42 points in 2002-03, when he became the 6th Auggie to earn MIAC Player of the Year honors … Team made MIAC playoffs in 3 of his 4 seasons, with semifinal finishes in his junior and senior years.

Ben Erickson '96 (Golf) First golfer in "modern era" of Augsburg men's golf (since 1994-95) to earn All-MIAC honors all four years of their careers … Currently fourth in school history in career stroke average, with 75.91 average in 34 rounds (1993-96) … Leader of Auggie teams that qualified for NCAA D-III National Championships in 1995, winning MIAC title in 1995-96 and finishing second in 1994-95 … Placed 2nd in 1994 MIAC Championships (151), tied for 3rd in 1995 (150), tied for 5th in 1993, tied for 5th in 1992 (156) … Tied for 39th in 1995 NCAA Championships (236).

Daniel Lewandowski '97 (Wrestling / Soccer) 1997 Augsburg Senior Honor Athlete … First Augsburg wrestler ever inducted into National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III Wrestling Hall of Fame, inducted in 2003 … Finished career with 126-43 record, including 34-7 mark in 1995-96 and 37-6 record in 1996-97 … Won NCAA Division III national title at 190 pounds in both 1996 and 97, third Auggie wrestler ever (now 11 in program history) to win multiple national titles … Three-time NCAA All-American, finishing sixth at 190 in 1994-95, and four-time national tournament qualifier … Won MIAC titles at 190 pounds in 1996 and 1997, while finishing second in 1994 and 1995 … Earned MIAC Rory Jordan Award for most pins in least time at 1996 MIAC tournament … Member of Augsburg teams that won NCAA D-III national titles in 1995 and 1997, finished 2nd in 1996 and 4th in 1994 … Team co-captain in 1996-97 … Three-time NWCA Scholar All-American (1995, 1996, 1997), CoSIDA Academic All-American (second team at-large) in 1997 … Served as Augsburg assistant coach from 1998-2002, part of three national title teams as a coach … Also three-year member of Augsburg men's soccer team as midfielder.

Jamie Osberg '95 (Football) Linebacker … All-MIAC first team in 1994, All-MIAC second team in 1993, All-MIAC honorable mention in 1992 … Finished career with 342 tackles, 6 interceptions and 3 fumble recoveries … Recorded 117 tackles and 2 interceptions in 1992; 109 tackles, 1 interception and 1 fumble recovery in 1993; 88 tackles, 3 interceptions and 1 fumble recovery in 1994 ... Voted team's Auggie Award and Best Team Player Award in 1993 ... Voted team captain, Defensive MVP, Auggie Award, Best Team Player and Academic Club in 1994 ... Named to Division II/Division III All-Star Team in 1994.

Jim Peterson '99 (Wrestling / Football) Co-Honor Athlete in 1998-99 … In wrestling, finished career with 129-26 record … Three-time All-American, winning NCAA D-III national title at 167 pounds in 1997-98, finishing 2nd at 174 in 1998-99, and finishing 7th at 167 in 1996-97 … Member of Augsburg teams that won NCAA national titles in both 1996-97 and 1997-98, while finishing 2nd in 1995-96 and 1998-99 …Won MIAC title at 174 in 1998-99 … 3-time NWCA Scholar All-American, CoSIDA Academic All-America 2nd team in 1999 … In football, earned All-MIAC 2nd team honors as running back in both 1997 and 1998 … Rushed 138 times for 520 yards and 4 TDs, while catching 70 passes for 622 yards and 3 TDs in career … Member of 1997 MIAC title and NCAA tournament team.

Jeoffrey Reed '00 (Basketball) MIAC Player of the Year in 1999-2000, also named to Lutheran College All-America squad … All-MIAC 1st team in 1999-2000, All-MIAC Defensive Team in both 1998-99 and 1999-2000 … Two-year starting point guard … Finished career with 791 points (8.9 ppg) and 2.8 rebounds (2.8 rpg) … 171 steals are still most in school history, while his 257 assists are 5th in school history … Averaged 9.4 ppg with 86 rebounds and 97 assists in Augsburg's MIAC regular-season title and NCAA tournament season in 1998-99 … Averaged 14.3 ppg with 74 assists and 92 rebounds in 1999-2000 … Member of MIAC playoff teams all 4 years and MIAC title/NCAA tournament teams twice.

Ellen (Waldow) Cullen '06 (Cross Country / Track & Field)  Two-time All-MIAC selection and one-time All-MIAC Honorable Mention selection in cross country, finishing 15th in 2003, 13th in 2004 and 17th in 2005 at MIAC Championships … NCAA All-Region with 16th-place finish at 2004 NCAA regional … Set career-best 6K time with 22:58.1 time at UW-Eau Claire Invite on 10/1/04 … Part of Auggie squad that had best season in school history in 2004, finishing 6th at MIAC Championships and 9th in NCAA regional … In track and field, won MIAC outdoor championship in 2004 in 800-meter dash, and won two MIAC relay titles (2004 indoor distance medley relay, 2004 outdoor 3,200-meter relay) … NCAA D-III Indoor National Championships qualifier in 2004 in distance medley relay, earning All-American honors with 12:08.87, 7th-place finish … Part of 3 school records in relays (2 outdoor, 1 indoor).

LEGEND OF AUGSBURG ATHLETICS AWARD Howard "Howie" Pearson '53 Howie Pearson was a multi-sport athlete as an Auggie, playing on the football, baseball, basketball and track and field teams. After graduating with a bachelor's degree in history and physical education, he served for two years in the Marine Corps, coaching football and basketball and winning a pair of championships. He earned his master's degree from the University of Minnesota.   Pearson returned to his alma mater in 1956, serving as a physical education instructor and assistant coach in football and basketball. He re-started Augsburg's track and field program in 1958, serving as the team's head coach. He also re-started Augsburg's cross country program in the 1960s, serving as head coach. He also served as intramural director at Augsburg for many years. Pearson left Augsburg in 1972 to work in the private sector, for North Star Consultants Inc. and Integrated Resources Inc. He was named to the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame in 1982.   Pearson has been a key booster for his alma mater for decades, serving in the 1990s as president of the Alumni A-Club. He has been a treasured presence in the crowd at Auggie sporting events over the years, and continues to offer financial support and guidance for Augsburg athletic projects.