WINONA, Minn. – On Saturday, March 22nd, the Saint Mary’s University athletic department proudly inducted five new members into its Sports Hall of Fame.
The event drew a large crowd to honor Amanda Edmond B’01 (volleyball), Amber (Rajtora) Haschenburger B’01 (volleyball), Mike Lester (former volleyball coach), Shelley (Haake) Mosquera B’01 (volleyball), and Tony Piscitiello B’69, M’82 (baseball; executive vice president), the five distinguished honorees of the evening.
“It was yet again an unforgettable evening honoring five of our Cardinal greats and celebrating our student-athletes and department,” said athletic director Brian Sisson. “It was truly so special seeing all five inductees, the variety of student-athlete alumni, coach and university administrator and hearing their speeches.”
At the dinner, the groundbreaking news was revealed about the amazing $5.5 million gift from Mr. David R. Thies B’59, a member of the Hall of Fame and Major League Baseball pitcher, and his wife, Marlys. Of this generous contribution, $2.625 million which is the largest gift in history, is designated for athletics.
The gift will provide a complete remodel of the Winona Campus gymnasium, which will now be called the David R. Thies B’59 Arena.
This announcement echoed the sentiment that none of these accomplishments would be possible without the steadfast generosity of our alumni, benefactors, and community leaders.
Brenna Bruchert, a junior on the Saint Mary’s volleyball team, delivered an inspiring speech on behalf of the current student-athletes. Her words highlighted the importance of not just the game, but the relationships built along the way. That sentiment resonated deeply with the many volleyball alumni in attendance, as four of the five inductees had a lasting impact on the program.
“Being an athlete is about more than just the game,” said Bruchert. “It’s about the people you journey with and the impact you make along the way.”
The importance of the people you journey with was evident. It was truly special to see so many volleyball alumni return to support both their past and present Cardinal family.
“I am so humbled and grateful for this recognition,” said Lester. “This award is truly our student-athletes honor, they deserve the credit and I am extremely grateful to accept this on their behalf.”
Each of the inductees expressed their gratitude and shared personal reflections on the honor.
“The honor of being inducted into the Hall of Fame will be something I cherish for the rest of my life,” Edmond said.
“When I was in school and saw the names of past Hall of Famers, I often thought of them as these record-setting driven athletes who transcended limitations,” said Haschenburger. “But what you never realize, until you’re standing up here, is that these awards are given to people who were also lucky enough to have some very special people supporting them along the way.”
“I can’t help but feel overwhelmed with gratitude, nostalgia, and, if I’m being honest, a little disbelief,” said Mosquera. “It is an incredible honor to be inducted into the Saint Mary’s University Sports Hall of Fame.”
The volleyball crowd was lively on Saturday evening, and it was clear that a sense of nostalgia was in the air.
To round out the evening, the one that helped start the Cardinal Excellence Fund had his moment of being able to call himself a Hall of Famer.
“I fondly recall being at the first class of inductees and have attended most ceremonies since,” said Piscitiello. “I can truly say my work at Saint Mary’s University was a rewarding labor of love.”
It was a memorable evening of coming together to celebrate Saint Mary’s athletics in one place.
“‘A great night of celebration, and we are thankful to all who helped make it a success yet again,” said Sisson.
You can find recordings of the full event, including the speeches from the inductees here.
