Pacific Lutheran University Athletics

MIKE BENSON
(Tennis Coach, 1970-99)

In the 30 years that Mike Benson coached the Pacific Lutheran men's tennis program, his teams won or shared 24 Northwest Conference championships. Benson's all-time PLU men's tennis coaching record was an amazing 400-196. During that same 30-year period his teams compiled an incredible 166-18 dual match record, including a pair of 60-matching winning streaks, in Northwest Conference matches. Benson's teams made the trek to Kansas City for NAIA nationals on 20 occasions and finished as high as eighth place. One of his players, Dave Trageser, reached the national tournament championship match in both singles (1978) and doubles (with Mike Hoeger in 1979). During Benson's six years as head coach of the PLU women's team the Lutes won six conference titles and had a 90-35 overall record. Benson played collegiate tennis at Pacific Lutheran and helped win the 1967 district doubles championship. He is perhaps best known for helping to coin the term, "It's a great day to be a Lute," celebrating the spirit of Pacific Lutheran University athletics.

One of the most accomplished athletes in the history of the Pacific Lutheran athletic program, Kerri Butcher won four consecutive NAIA nationals titles in the 100-yard butterfly, in the process breaking the national record three times. As a senior, Butcher won individual national titles in the 100 butterfly, 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle and also swam on winning relay teams in the 200 freestyle, 800 freestyle and 400 medley. That year, she was honored as the national meet's outstanding female swimmer. In her four-year career, Butcher broke numerous PLU school records and earned NAIA All-America honors 25 times by virtue of placing in the top six in individual or relay events. In all, she won six individual and six relay national championships. In addition to her talent in the water, Butcher also earned NAIA All-America Scholar-Athlete honors.

Steve Irion excelled in both football and baseball at Pacific Lutheran. As a football defensive back, he earned NAIA first team All-America honors as a senior after intercepting seven passes, recovering a fumble and blocking two kicks. A four-year letter winner and three-year starter, Irion completed his PLU football career with 19 interceptions, including his single-season best of 10 as a sophomore in 1975. He earned all-conference and Little All-Northwest honors in both his sophomore and senior seasons. As a four-year starter in baseball, Irion received All-Northwest Conference recognition at two different positions. He was honored as an outfielder as a sophomore and as a shortstop as a junior and senior. He still ranks in the top five in single-season categories for triples and home runs and in the top 10 in career listings for at bats, runs, hits, triples, home runs, runs batted in and stolen bases.

Affectionately known as "Mr. PLU," the Rev. Milton Luther Nesvig was Pacific Lutheran's ambassador to the world. He served the university in various capacities - assistant professor of English, director of public relations, director of admissions, vice president of university relations and university archivist - from 1947 until his official retirement in 1980. Nesvig was on the Pacific Lutheran football team and briefly served as tennis coach in 1948. His most passionate connection to the school's sports program, however, was as an avid fan with unsurpassed enthusiasm. It is accurate to state that some technical fouls assessed to the Pacific Lutheran bench were in reality attributable to the red-faced fan a row or two behind the bench. Former President William Rieke tells of Nesvig getting so worked up that he became as much fun to watch as the game itself. Nesvig, who died in 1990 at the age of 75, graduated from Pacific Lutheran College in 1935 then earned an English degree from St. Olaf College in 1937. After becoming ordained in 1942, he served as pastor of a Tacoma church and later as a Navy chaplain. He earned a master's in journalism from the University of Minnesota in 1947, then came to Pacific Lutheran College. Nesvig Alumni Center is named in his honor.

Dave Peterson had a significant impact on the Pacific Lutheran University crew program, first a crew team member and later as a coach. Peterson earned four varsity letters, was voted Commodore as a senior and was a member of the Varsity 8 that won the inaugural Head of the Lake 3-mile regatta, beating recent Pan Am Games bronze medal winning University of Washington. He went on to a distinguished post-collegiate racing career. Taking over as PLU coach in 1975, Peterson built the program into national recognition during his 11-year tenure. Several of his women's crews won national gold and bronze medals, and a number of his rowers went on to become national caliber competitors after graduation from Pacific Lutheran. In Peterson's final season as coach, Pacific Lutheran won three of the team's six regular season regattas, six major trophies, four regional championships, two West Coach championship and one national title.

Stacy Waterworth is one of the finest two-sport athletes in the history of Pacific Lutheran University women's athletics. Waterworth ranks on numerous single-season and career top 10 lists in women's soccer. She holds the record for most goals in a game with six and ranks second in career points with 184 and career goals with 74. Waterworth not only knew how to put the ball in the net, she also was an adept passer and consummate team player, ranking third in career assists with 36. She was voted the team's Co-Offensive MVP in 1986 and earned all-conference honors during her junior and senior seasons. Waterworth has since earned recognition as the Washington women's amateur soccer player of the year in 1993. As a softball player, she earned all-district honors three times and first team all-conference recognition twice. Her best season, arguably, came during her junior year when she hit .400 and set a then-school record with 27 runs.