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University School of Milwaukee Honors Second Class of Inductees to Athletic Hall of Fame

University School of Milwaukee Honors Second Class of Inductees to Athletic Hall of Fame

University School of Milwaukee will honor the second class of inductees to its Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, during a special ceremony as part of the school’s Homecoming celebration.

The USM Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 2016 to commemorate a legacy of exceptional athletic performance and accomplishments by former USM and predecessor school student athletes, coaches, teams, and distinguished contributors. It recognizes and honors the vital role of athletics within the culture of the school.

The second class of inductees was selected by an esteemed Hall of Fame committee consisting of former USM and predecessor school athletes, coaches, and administrators, with primary consideration given to athletic accomplishments and overall performance during each honorees’ tenure. The inductees will be added to the Hall of Fame wall, which was named in honor of Henry “Chip” Uihlein Jr. MCDS’63 and is located in the Quadracci Lobby.

Congratulations to the following members of this year’s USM Athletic Hall of Fame Class.

Student Athletes

Robert "Bobby" Jake MUS'40

Robert %22Bobby%22 Jake

Jake is one of the most highly decorated male athletes in the history of USM’s predecessor schools. He was a standout tennis and basketball player, leading the basketball team in scoring as a junior with 103 points, and setting a school record as a senior with 165 points. After matriculating to Northwestern University he won the Big Ten Conference singles and doubles tennis championships in 1946. Following his graduation from medical school, the Baltimore Bullets selected Jake 16th overall in the 1947 draft.

Alice Kieckhefer Fajen MDS'44

Alice Kieckhefer Fajen

Fajen was a pioneering female athlete during her time at Milwaukee Downer Seminary. She excelled in the three major sports recognized at that time—field hockey, basketball, and baseball—as well as others. As a freshman, she lettered in all three major sports, and was recognized as the school’s best tennis player. She lettered in field hockey and basketball as a senior and matriculated to Smith College, where she continued to excel in tennis.

John Stocking MCDS'57

John Stocking

Stocking was a three-sport athlete in football, basketball, and track at Milwaukee Country Day School, and the only unanimous, First Team All-Midwest conference prep selection for 1957 in basketball. Additionally, he was the Midwest Prep leading scorer with 331 points that same year. He served as a captain in all three sports and further developed his leadership skills at Yale University, where he was once again a tri-sport athlete and member of the football, basketball, and track teams.

Jim Bell MUS'58

Jim Bell

Bell excelled in the classroom and on the tennis court, football field, and basketball court. Bell and his teammates started one of the longest winning streaks in Wisconsin high school history, with the team winning 57 straight games from 1957 to 1961, which still stands today. Bell was a leader in the classroom, earning the Thompson Trophy in 1958, and he matriculated to Williams College where he continued his football career. He has served as a member of the Board of Trustees and chairman of the school’s endowment fund, and is a recipient of the USM Alumni Service Award.

Eugene "Pepi" Randolph '79

Eugene %22Pepi%22 Randolph

Known for his incredible speed and tremendous work ethic, Randolph earned all-conference and all-area accolades in baseball following his sophomore, junior, and senior years, and also earned four varsity letters in baseball, three in basketball, and three in football. As a senior, he was named MVP and received the highly coveted Henry H. Uihlein Sportsmanship Award. He matriculated to UW-Madison, where he played baseball and helped the team to four top-five finishes in the Big Ten.

Karen Hartwig '86

Karen Hartwig

During her time at USM, Hartwig received 10 varsity letters, was a three-sport captain, and also a three-time MVP. In 1986, she was awarded the Marion Chester Read Award as the top female athlete of her class. Hartwig matriculated to Dartmouth College, where she helped the field hockey team earn two conference championships in 1987 and 1988. While at Dartmouth, Hartwig won the Dorothy Hall Leavitt Award and received an all-Ivy League Honorable Mention in 1987.

Sarah Cyganiak '94

Sarah Cyganiak

As a freshman, Cyganiak was the state champion in tennis, finishing her USM career with an overall record of 103-1—the lone loss resulting from an injury default. At the University of Michigan, Cyganiak was named the Big Ten freshman of the year. She was a four-time All-Big Ten selection, was twice named conference player of the year, and served as captain when the school won its first and only Big Ten championship. She holds the school record with 100 career singles victories.

Distinguished Contributor

Audrey Arndt

Audrey Arndt keeps score during a USM athletic contest.

Arndt worked as secretary for the headmaster at Milwaukee Country Day School and as Upper School secretary at USM for a total of 46 years, and also as a volunteer statistician and scorekeeper at conference track meets. She was a regular attendee at countless home and away games, and could often be found, rain or shine, on the sidelines to help cheer on her beloved teams. Arndt is often described by many as the heart and soul of both MCDS and USM.

Teams

1947-1950 MCDS Football Teams

The MCDS football team practices before a game.

The Milwaukee Country Day School’s football teams from 1947 to 1950 achieved a collective 27-0 record, with each team being honored as Midwest Prep conference champions. In the 27 games played from 1947 to 1950, MCDS scored 730 points while their opponents scored a combined 129 points. In 12 of those games, the MCDS Cougars did not allow their opponents to score a single point. In 1948, two players received All-State honorable mentions for the first time in school history. The teams played under the esteemed coaching of the legendary Ken Laird and Tom Hughes.

Coach

Tony Fritz

Fritz began his USM career in 1964 as a physical education teacher and boys’ hockey, soccer, and baseball coach. He is best known for having turned USM’s fledgling hockey program into a state powerhouse, compiling an overall record of 159-90-7. Fritz became a head coach at Lake Forest College in 1978. He was inducted into the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Forester Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007, and received the John MacInnes Award in 2013.

  • Athletics