The Wisconsin Soccer Association (WSA), a 501c corporation, is proud to announce the candidates for the 25th Anniversary of the Wisconsin Soccer Association (WSA) Hall of Fame. Please join us in honoring these distinguished contributors to soccer at our annual banquet on Saturday, March 17th, 2007. This years candidates are:
We ask for your assistance in funding our 2007 Hall of Fame by purchasing advertising space. This will include:
Any WSA e-mail blast will also have you as part of the e-mail You can reserve ad space to congratulate this year's inductees, announce upcoming events or promote your club or business. We need your advertising commitment and material by February 28, 2007. The advertising rates are:
Please contact Jerry Merz at the Wisconsin Soccer Association office on
Tuesdays or Thursdays for more information on advertising or tickets at
414-545-7227 extension 13. You may send black and white ads or questions via
email to: jmerz@wisoccer.org.
We look forward to seeing you at the 2007 Hall of Fame Banquet.
John Janasik , WSA President
Tony Ansems, Hall of Fame
Committee Chairman
Tim Alioto, Player Category
Currently resides in Colgate, WI
with his wife Mina and children Kristine and Dana. He was born in Milwaukee in
1958. His successful playing career in Wisconsin was primarily with the
Milwaukee Bavarians, but included the Milwaukee Sport Club and Milwaukee
Serbians. His state league teams were highly successful, winning a National
Championship with the Milwaukee Bavarians, 9 State Major Division Championships
and 8 Indoor Championships. He continued that success as a member of the
Milwaukee Wave Indoor professional team from 1986 to 1990. His playing skills
were widely recognized as he was selected to the 1980 US Olympic Development
Team. Tim was a leader on the field with his superlative skills and an example
and role model for those who saw him play.
Tom Alioto, Player
Category
Currently resides in Milwaukee, WI with his wife Amy and son
Evan Thomas. Tom was born in Milwaukee, WI in 1958. He has been successful both
as a player and a coach in the top levels of amateur and professional soccer.
As a player he led every team he played with to numerous Major Division and
State National Cup Championships; including the Milwaukee Bavarians, Milwaukee
Serbians, Milwaukee Sport Club, and Mequon United. His playing skills were
recognized by his peers with several All Star and Regional Team selections. Tom
also played professionally for a number of professional indoor and outdoor
teams, including the indoor Kansas City Comets and Milwaukee Wave, and the
outdoor NASL Chicago Sting and the Milwaukee Rampage, where he was selected as
an A League All-Star. His coaching career overlapped his playing career with
stints at Fort Wayne, Indiana as well as the Wave and Rampage. He coached
Mequon United to State and Regional Open Cup Championships.
Ben
Bavinck, Overall Category
Currently resides in Appleton, WI with his
wife Jude. Ben was born in the Netherlands and began this playing career there.
He brought his love of soccer to Wisconsin were he played for years with the
Fox Valley Bombers and the Oshkosh Soccer Club. He was regularly selected to
regional All-Star and select teams to represent the area as one of its top
players. He soon began coaching both youth and adult teams and for many years
has provided the region with coaching leadership. Ben became involved in the
promotion and organization of soccer in the Fox River Valley area. He has
organized many area youth programs, including boy's soccer at St. Mary's High
School. He has organized and directed many youth soccer camps to promote the
growth and development of the sport. With the growth of soccer, Ben has taken
on the administrative responsibilities for a variety of programs, both youth
and adult. His leadership and commitment to the sport of soccer at all levels
has been critical to growth and development soccer has had in the Fox River
Valley area.
Peter Knezic, Player Category
Currently resides
in Cudahy, WI with his wife Annie and six children, Stevan, Katrina, John,
Timmy, Gabriella, and Daniella. Peter was born in Milwaukee in 1959. He began
his playing career as a youth player for the Milwaukee Serbian Soccer Club in
1967 and eventually with their Major Division team. He led them to three
Wisconsin Major Division and two Wisconsin Challenge Cup Championships. Peter
was widely recognized by his peers for his playing skills including selection
to the Wisconsin All-Star Team for 10 years from 1979 to 1989. He was a First
Team All-American and Team Captain for UW-Milwaukee. Following college Peter
had a ten-year professional indoor playing career with the Chicago Horizon,
Oklahoma City Slickers, and the Milwaukee Wave, where in addition to playing,
he served as Team Captain, Assistant Coach, and final as the General Manager.
In addition to coaching the Wave, Peter has coached high school boys and girls
at Waukesha Catholic Memorial, Brookfield East, and Brookfield Central. He's
coached amateurs with the Milwaukee Serbian Soccer Club and the Milwaukee
Kickers, where he was Director of Coaching. He is currently active with F.C.
Milwaukee.
Mark LaPorte, Player Category
He currently
resides in Delafield, WI. Mark has three children, Dominick, Elise, and
Michael. Mark was born in Milwaukee in 1961. He started play with the Milwaukee
Kickers in 1969 and won numerous WSA Youth State Champions. In high school Mark
was an All City and McDonalds All-American goalkeeper at Milwaukee Riverside.
In college at UW-Madison he was Team Captain, three times Team MVP, two-time
All Mid-East selection and was picked to play in the College Senior Bowl
All-Star Game. As an amateur Mark led the Madison 56ers and Milwaukee Serbians
to five State Championships. With the Madison 56ers Mark also led them to one
Amateur and three State Open Cup Championships, two Region 2 Tournament of
Champions Championships, a National Amateur Cup Region 2 Championship and a
National Semi-finalist placing in 1990. In addition to being an outstanding
Goalkeeper for two decades, Mark was noted for his on and off the field
leadership and enthusiasm for the sport of soccer.
Dr. James Mullen,
Player Category
He currently resides in Hazelhurst, WI with his wife
Diane and sons Keegan and Kieran. Jim was born in College Station, Texas in
1957. He began his senior playing career in soccer at the age of 15 as a player
for the Madison Soccer Club in 1972, which he led to a league championship at
age 17. As a three-year starter for the UW-Madison he was the midfield leader
and a leading goal scorer, Team Captain, team MVP, All-State selection in 1978
and 1979, and an annual All-Tournament selection. As a midfielder with the
Madison 56ers, Jim provided the midfield leadership in leading them to the top
of the WSA Major Division and multiple State and Cup Championships. His skills
and tireless work rate was recognized by his peers with multiple regional
All-Star selections. In addition to playing soccer, Jim earned a position on
the U.S. National Speed Skating Team for six years, skating with Eric Heiden,
including participation in the 1980 and 1984 Olympic Trails. Jim started
coaching soccer will at the UW-Madison as an Assistant Coach at Memorial High
School and then as the Head Coach for both boys and girls at Madison Edgewood
HS. He was a UW-Madison Men's Assistant Coach and regularly selected as both a
Madison and Wisconsin youth teams Select Team Coach. After Medical School, Jim
continued his soccer participation as the Medical Director for Teams USA,
traveling to Europe and the Soviet Union.
Robert s. Newberry,
Referee Category
He currently resides in Madison, WI with his wife
Nancy and daughters Anna and Elsbeth. Bob was born in Burbank, California in
1945. He played Goalkeeper in the Capital Division for 10 years with the
Madison Chargers from 1969 to 1979. Once done playing Bob coached youth soccer
and began refereeing local games. In 1980 he became a USSF registered referee
and as a State Level Referee he served for twenty years, until 2000. He has
continued to serve as a Emeritus Referee up to the present. Bob served as a
Referee Assessor from 1995 to 2003 and became a State Referee Assessor in 2001,
which he still performs. In addition, he assumed the responsibility of being a
Referee Instructor in 2000, which he also continues to perform. Bob has been
instrumental in the growth and development of referee ranks in Wisconsin with
over 20 years of service in the administration, training and assessment of
Wisconsin's game officials.
William Sandoval, Administrator
Category
He currently resides in Milwaukee, WI with his wife Susan and
three children, Marie, Bill and Dennis. Mr. Sandoval was born in Milwaukee, WI
in 1939. Bill has been active in the sport of soccer in the Milwaukee area for
over fifty years. He has been a youth coach and club administrator for Club
Latino for over 15 years, including serving as President for 10 years. Bill has
worked tirelessly for the development and promotion of youth soccer in the
Milwaukee Metro area. He was responsible for the start and growth of the
Journey House Youth Soccer League, which provides 1200 youth from 7 to 15 years
old with the opportunity to play soccer. He continues to serve as a Board
Member. He was worked to expand the number of certified youth coaches and
referees to serve the needs of youth soccer. Bill has provided outstanding
leadership to Wisconsin soccer for years as the Wisconsin Adult Soccer
Association Vice-President and Region 2 Delegate. He has also provided legal
representation for the Wisconsin Soccer Association. In addition he has taken
on the responsibilities of serving as the Wisconsin Soccer Association
Vice-President. In his love for the sport of soccer and willingness to devote
countless hours of service to its furtherance, William Sandoval has been a
vital leader and servant of the Wisconsin Soccer Association.
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