2017 Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony honors star athletes

Anoka-Ramsey Community College Hall of Fame 2017 inductees: From Left to right, John Burgeson, Darby Walbon, Joe Sidoti (Wrestling Coach) Charlie Blixt, Mike Dahlheimer, Tom Obricki, (1972-72 Wrestling Team) Pat Hicks (Coach 1973-1992) Sonja Ellingson Women's Basketball (2007-2008), Boo Mills (Paul Mills Mother) Paul Mills Baseball 1985-1986, Mulenga Kapungulya (Soccer 2007) Bill Sorenson (1971-1972 Wrestling team).

February 17, 2017

For the 2^nd year, Anoka-Ramsey Community College celebrated star athletes with an Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony in mid-February. The event is intended to connect exceptional alumni athletes to the current Anoka-Ramsey Community College’s community.

The Athletic Hall of Fame was initiated in 2016 to honor athletes, coaches and community members who have made meaningful contributions to Anoka-Ramsey Golden Rams athletic programs.

Inductees for the 2017 Hall of Fame were:

• 1971-1972 Anoka-Ramsey Wrestling Team
• won every tournament they entered (except Nationals);
• wrestled to an undefeated dual meet season (first ever)
• Minnesota Junior College Athletic Association Wrestling Championship (first ever)
•  State Championship (the first ever)
• 14th place in the National Junior College Championships

• Sonja Ellingson
• named Most Valuable Player when team won the 2007 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Championship  
• selected as  member of the Minnesota Collegiate Athletic Conference (MCAC) All-Conference team
•  All-State NJCAA Player of the Week
•  NJCAA All-American
•  NJCAA Honorable Mention All-American
• Anoka-Ramsey Outstanding Student/Athlete of the Year

• Mulenga Kapungulya
• instrumental in organizing intramural games, which were unbeaten for two consecutive years
• captained the first Men’s Soccer team which become NJCAA Regional Champions as a first year program
• All-Region Team award
• Anoka-Ramsey’s first All-American in Men’s Soccer

• Pat Hicks
• coached from 1973-1992 as the Women’s AD
• coached Volleyball (338-216) for 16 years
• coached Softball (241-191) for 16 years
• coached Basketball (49-17) for three years
• compiled a 628-424 record throughout

• Paul Mills
• attended Anoka-Ramsey Community College from 1984 to 1986
• dominating pitcher for the Golden Rams
• All-State award
• All- Region award
• All-American award

“Through the process of selecting the exceptional alumni athletes to be inducted in the Hall of Fame and planning the induction ceremony, the committee is maintaining and building relationships with alumni and the community. This is something we haven’t had the resources to do before the tradition of the Hall of Fame,” said David Alto, Anoka-Ramsey Athletics Director.

“Our President Kent Hanson has a passion for the Hall of Fame event and his leadership in helping the department get everything up and running for the first year and this year has played a vital role in making the Hall of Fame an Anoka-Ramsey athletic tradition,” Alto concluded.

For more information about Anoka-Ramsey Community College Golden Rams Athletics, visitarccgoldenrams.com/landing/index to submit an exceptional alumni athlete for next year’s Hall of Fame visit: arccgoldenrams.com/information/Hall_of_Fame_Nomination_Form