MARSHALL, Minn. – The 14th induction into the Southwest Minnesota State University Athletics Hall of Honor is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 2. The SMSU Athletics Hall of Honor was established in 1992 and inducts new members every two years. The newest SMSU Athletics Hall of Honor members include wrestler Leon Bullerman (1989-91), of Adrian, MN, and women’s basketball player Erin (Oakland) Dauwalter (2003-07), of Fulda, MN.
A 12-member committee chose the inductees from a group of nominations. The new inductees bring the membership in SMSU’s Athletic Hall of Honor to 98 individuals/couples and 14 teams. The Athletics Hall of Honor is displayed in the lobby of the R/A Facility.
Leon Bullerman • MNSU Wrestling, 1989-91 • Leon is a native of Adrian, MN and a 1986 graduate of Adrian High School. His collegiate achievements included: a two-year letter winner in wrestling (1989-91); won the 1991 NAIA National Championship at 158 pounds winning four matches, including two by fall; finished with a 40-3-1 record in 1990-91, setting a school single-season record for victories; was named the 1991 NAIA Wrestler of the Year; was the 1991 NIC champion at 158 pounds; he helped SMSU to a ninth place finish at the 1991 NAIA Championships; compiled a 25-2 record during his junior season and qualified for the NAIA Championships, but suffered an injury in January and missed the remainder of the season. Leon finished his two-year career with a 65-5-1 record. He also won two Junior College individual national championships prior to arrival at SMSU.
Erin (Oakland) Dauwalter • MNSU Women’s Golf/Basketball, 2003-07 • Erin was a native of Fulda, MN and a 2003 graduate of Fulda High School. Her collegiate achievements were: she was a four-year letter winner in golf (2003-07) and three-year letter winner in basketball (2004-07); she won NCAA North Regional individual title in 2004; was a 2004 NCAA National Championship qualifier, finishing 29th overall; the 2004 Minnesota State College Golf Association Freshman of the Year; a 2005 NSIC individual champion; was named the 2005 NSIC Golfer of the Year; a member of three NCAA tournament teams; a member of three NSIC championship teams, played in four NCAA regional tournaments, finishing in the Top 10 in all four tournaments, a four-time All-NSIC honoree; a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree; a four-time National Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholar; a seven-time medalist; she recorded 20 Top 5 finishes; finished career with school record 81.6 career stroke average, she played three seasons on the women’s basketball team; played in 59 games; scored 145 points with 45 field goals and 15 3-pointers in career and played in all 28 games with seven starts during her senior season.
The festivities, which will be held at the SMSU Upper Level Conference Center, will begin at 11 a.m. with a half-hour social, followed by lunch and the induction ceremonies beginning at 11:30 a.m.
To view the Athletics Hall of Honor online, go to SMSUmustangs.com/hallofhonor.
