JWP Hall of Fame induction ceremony

The annual JWP Hall of Fame Banquet will begin at 4 p.m. Oct. 4 at the Purple Goose in Janesville. A meal will be served at 5 p.m.; awards to follow at 6 p.m. 

 

Those interested in enjoying the meal should contact Mike Niemczyk at 507-381-1025 to purchase a ticket. Those interested in just the program are welcome to attend.

 

The following persons and teams will be inducted:

 

Teams: 1997 Boys’ Basketball team, 2000 Boys’ Golf Team, 1997 Wrestling Team. 

 

Individuals:  Mike Cummins, Travis Gunsolus, Trent Gunsolus, Bob Hendricks, Tim Johnson, Josh Melchior, David Pope, and Greg Strauss.

 

Greg Strauss

Greg is a 1970 graduate of Janesville where he participated in football, basketball, baseball and track.  He is a two-year all conference and all-area basketball player and was all-conference in track for 3 years. In track, Greg competed in the pole vault, 220 (100 yard), and the long jump earning conference championships in all three, setting a conference record in the long jump and a school record of 22 seconds in the 220.  Greg was all-state track in 1970 and 1971.

 

Josh Melchior

Josh is a 1991 graduate of JWP earning 11 varsity letters, four in Football, four in wrestling, and three in baseball.  He earned all-conference and all-area honors in football, was a 1,000 yard rusher for two years and was All Area Player of the year. Josh held the single season rushing record in football for 25 years. In wrestling, Josh placed fourth in state and earned All State honors his senior year.  Josh attended Mankato State University and coached JWP Youth Football for four years. Josh and his wife Lisa have two children, Taya and Ty.

 

Dr. David Pope

Dr. Pope Started teaching in the science department in Janesville in 1960.  He began attending medical school In 1964, yet returned to Janesville in 1969 and opened his medical practice.  By the time he retired in 2005, he had performed a few thousand pre-participation physicals.  Dr. Pope attended many athletic events in case his help was needed – and  numerous times it was– all of which he remembers well: two broken arms, a shoulder separation, a heart murmur and a dislocated knee cap.  In the 70s the rescue squad of the fire department became trained EMTs, yet Dr. Pope continued to attend and support the local athletic programs.   He helped start the Janesville Area Foundation and served as its secretary for several years.  The Foundation has provided many grants to JWP and has supported a number of athletic programs.  He has also served as secretary of the Janesville Matters organization.   Dr. Pope was a Rotarian for 50 years and the club provided thousands of dollars to JWP for many programs.  Rotary also sponsored the Youth Exchange program and both brought more than 30 students to attend JWP from around the world and sponsored many JWP students who spent a year abroad.  Dr. Pope became a Paul Harris Fellow for his contributions.  His best memories of JWP are the trips to the state tournaments and watching students develop their skills, mature and have fun.  

Dr. Pope and his wife Vanette have four children, Brian, Tammy, Scott and Amy.

 

Tim Johnson

Tim is a 1990 Graduate of JWP. He participated in track for four years and spent three as part of the football and basketball teams.  In 1989, Tim took eighth place at the state track meet in the pole vault; in 1990 he placed second at state in the pole vault. Tim still holds the JWP pole vault record.

 

Tim attended UW- Stout and in 1995 set the UW - Stout pole vault record. He was also NCAA Division III All American placing sixth in the pole vault at nationals. Tim coached pole vault at UW-Stout in 1996 and continues to coach at JWP.  In 2019 Tim was recognized as the section 2A volunteer coach of the year.  He coached athletes at the state track meet in 2019, 2021 and 2022.

 

The 1997 Boys’ Basketball Team

The team earned Gopher Conference and Section Championships and qualified for the state tournament for a second year in a row.  The team lost a tough first round draw to Caledonia by five points, finishing with a 25 – 2 record.

Team members were Travis Anderson, Josh Berndt, Tim Burke, Brent Fury, Chris Gardner, Travis Hinze, Dave Jewison, Dan Jorgenson, Tim Sheehan, Justin Stanke, Clint Westphal, Ben Wheelock, Jared Ziemke, Josh Ziemke, and Jake Zimmerman. Managers were John Schultz and Jacob Hoehn.  The team was coached by Dave Tonolli, George Tuvey and Ritchie Johnson. Stats were taken care of by Kenda Lindeland, Katie (Seys) Reyes and Katie Sikel.  On the Cheer Team were Heidi Bartelt, Jackie Danberry, Katie (Kruse) Engel. Melissa Olson, Jessie (Witts) Courtney and Lisa (Yentsch) Dudley.

 

The 1997 Wrestling Team

The team was Gopher Conference and Section Champions and qualified for the state tournament for a second year in a row, placing sixth in the state tournament and ending that season with a 19 – 4 record. All-Conference wrestlers were Joe Weimar, Bob Beelow, Trent Gunsolus, Dana Gostomczik, Dave Carleton, Ben Blegen and Jeff Adams. 

 

Team Members were Jeff Adams, Bob Beelow, Ben Blegen, Dave Carleton, Aaron Duenes, Mike Fasnacht, Dana Gostomczik, Trent Gunsolus, Andy Krause, Joe Johnson, Jake Kaiser, Jason Lueders, Karl Mettler, George Phillips, Adam Roesler, Mike Schuch, and Joe Weimar.

 

The team was coached by  Mike Niemczyk, Gary vonHoltum, Bruce Manthe, Tim Oelke, and Willie Eustice.  In charge of stats were  Courtney (Adams) Anderson, Kelly (Schwictenberg) Berry and Tannis Steinberg. The Cheer Team included Heidi Bartelt, Jackie Danberry, Katie(Kruse) Engel, Melissa Olson, Jessie (Witts) Courtney and Lisa (Yentsch) Dudley.

 

Robert (Bob) Hendricks

Originally from Watertown, MN where he was All Conference in Football, on the Student council, FFA President and received State Vocal Music Awards. Robert graduated from St Cloud State University and then earned his Masters degree from Mankato State University.  After moving to Janesville, Bob became involved supporting local schools and communities by serving on scholarship committees, being emcee for many events including Miss Janesville and Dairy Princess and using his strong vocal ability announcing football for many years.  Bob also coached varsity wrestling and junior high football. He received the Paul Harris Award from the local Rotary Club.  Supporting some outstanding athletes in football, wrestling, baseball and basketball were some of Bob’s favorite memories of JWP athletics.

 

The 2000 Boys’ Golf Team

The team earned Gopher Conference, Sub-Section and Section Championships and was rewarded with a team trip to the state tournament. All-Conference individuals were Evan Holmes, Sean Mulcahey, Brian Finley, and Levi Mulcahey. The team finished  seventh at the class A state tournament.

 

State qualifiers were Sean Mulcahey, Levi Mulcahey, Sean Finley, Brian Finley, Reid Olson, and Evan Holmes. The team was coached by Mike Muedeking.

 

Trent Gunsolus

Trent is a 1999 graduate of JWP and an eight-time letter winner who participated in football, wrestling and baseball. Trent was a five-time all conference recipient in wrestling and two-time all state wrestler placing fourth and first in his state appearances.  Trent attended Itasca Junior college and then coached junior high wrestling at JWP for 5 years.

 

Travis Gunsolus 

Travis is a 2001 Graduate of JWP where he played football and wrestled for the Bulldogs.  Travis was a two-time state participant in wrestling taking third place as an individual in 2001 wrestling in the 125-pound slot on the 1998 second-place team.

 

Mike Cummins

Mike is a 1991 graduate of JWP.  He earned nine varsity letters: three each in football, basketball and baseball.  Mike earned all area in all three sports and all-conference honors two years in basketball and baseball.  Mike also captained his senior year basketball team.

Mike continued his education at Bethany and Mankato State College, playing basketball for Bethany. He then continued his involvement with athletics as a coach for various levels at JWP, Waterville and Mahtomedi where he spent 12 years on the Mahtomedi youth basketball board.

 

Returning a punt 60 yards for a touchdown his senior year is one of Mike's favorite memories as well as beating an undefeated St. Clair team in section finals his sophomore year.