COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. - The newest group of inductees into the SJU J-Club Hall of Honor took their places among other Johnnie greats of the past when this year's induction ceremony and dinner was held Saturday night (Sept. 27) in Guild Hall.

A crowd of around 270 was on hand to celebrate this year's class of 10 individuals – a group that included:

•    Bob Alpers '82 (basketball, head golf coach, athletic director, various assistant coaching roles)

•    Jerry Haugen '76 (baseball, football, head baseball coach, assistant football coach, head hockey coach, other assistant coaching roles)

•    Bernie Kukar '62 (football, basketball)

•    Patrick Lilly '79 (soccer)

•    Craig Muyres '64 (football, basketball)

•    Jim Platten '74 (J-Club Distinguished Service Award)

•    Ken Roering '64 (football)

•    Todd Schlorf '90 (tennis)

•    Josh Sherlin '05 (golf)

•    Brian Smith '83 (cross country, track and field)

This marked the sixth full class of inductees to the Hall of Honor, which started in 2018 with separate ceremonies honoring charter members John Gagliardi and Jim Smith – the legendary former head football and basketball coaches at SJU, respectively.

"This is a fraternity," J-Club President Dan Murphy '05 said. "This group we're recognizing tonight represents the best of the best of Saint John's athletics."

Both Murphy and SJU's executive director of alumni relations Adam Herbst '99 said the induction ceremony, which since 2019 has been held annually on Homecoming weekend (except for during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020), has taken on a life of its own.



"It does seem like it's become a tradition now," Murphy said. "The alumni community is quite aware of it. In a way it's a reunion of sorts, and it fits right into the spirit of Homecoming weekend."

"It's really special to see so many past inductees coming back to be part of it each year, and it's always nice to see the way each inductee is supported by their community," Herbst added. "Their family, friends, fellow alumni and teammates.

"This is a feel-good event. It's so fun to hear the stories of days gone by and see how those memories still connect to Saint John's today."

Members of this year's class were introduced, then interviewed on-stage by master-of-ceremonies Mark Lewandowski, the longtime radio voice of Johnnie athletics.

And their time on stage brought forth a flood of emotions.

"It's such an honor to be part of this group, and to be part of such a great school," said Muyres, the starting quarterback who helped lead SJU its first national title in 1963.

"I couldn't help thinking of all my teammates, and of John Gagliardi. I wouldn't be here tonight without them."

"Saint John's has such a great tradition in so many sports," added Schlorf, a two-time tennis All-American in singles play and one-time doubles selection who helped lead the Johnnies to the national tournament as a team in 1990 – the first and only time in program history that's happened.

"To be recognized as part of that is really a tremendous honor."