Pacific Lutheran University Athletics

Inducted March 12, 2022

Ingrid Finstuen (Volleyball: 1997-1999)
Ingrid Finstuen (Lindeblad) began her collegiate career in Minnesota before returning closer to home and playing three seasons with the Lutes, laying the foundation for one of the most successful programs in the Northwest Conference. Her three years on campus saw the Lutes win 45 games, including a 20-6 record as a senior in 1999. 
 
Despite missing nearly a third of the 1997 season with mononucleosis, Finstuen proved to be an impact player for the Lutes, leading the team in assists with 491 in the 16 matches she played. Finstuen was an All-Northwest Conference selection and a GTE Academic All-District VIII honoree as a junior, racking up 811 assists before saving her best for last as a senior in 1999. 
 
Finstuen was again named All-NWC and GTE Academic All-District guiding the Lutes to their first ever NWC title. The Lutes posted a 13-3 conference record, making the program’s first trip to the NCAA Division III Tournament and advancing to the NCAA West Region semifinals. That season set the bar for the program that has since won 10 more NWC titles and made 11 more NCAA Division III Tournament appearances. 
 
Anthony Hicks (Football 1998-1999)
One of the most dominant running backs in program history, Anthony Hicks left his mark on campus by winning a national title and establishing school rushing marks that have yet to be broken. 
 
Hicks rushed for 903 yards in 1998, powering PLU to the Northwest Conference title and a trip to the NCAA playoffs. Hicks returned in 1999 for a record-setting season that culminated with winning five road playoff games and the NCAA Division III title in Salem, Virginia.
 
A Second Team All-American, Hicks set still-standing single-season records in rushing yards (1,633), touchdowns (27), and points (162). That included scoring 11 of his 27 touchdowns during PLU’s playoff run that saw the Lutes travel over 15,000 miles across four time zones. 
 
Hicks finished with 2,536 career rushing yards, averaging an impressive 6.8 yards per carry. His 38 career touchdowns currently ranks fifth all-time while leaving campus having helped the Lutes to a 21-3 record on the gridiron and a 9-1 mark in league play.  
 
1970-1971 Men's Rowing V4+
The 1970 and 1971 PLU men's varsity four boats pieced together arguably the greatest two-year stretch of rowing greatness in program history. 

The Lute varsity four was unstoppable in 1970, finishing the regular season undefeated. The Lutes went on to win the prestigious Western Sprints, besting rowing blue bloods Washington, Cal, Oregon State, and British Columbia.

Raising their own funds to travel to Syracuse, New York for the 1970 Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships, the Lutes defeated Harvard for a spot in the finals, a feat that landed the team a feature story in the June 13th edition of The New York Times.
 
The underdog Lutes continued to impress in the finals, finishing with the bronze medal after beating the Crimson again along with crews from Columbia and Princeton.

The Lutes varsity four put together another undefeated run in 1971 before being edged by a bow ball at the Western Sprints to Washington, a crew the Lutes defeated earlier in the season. PLU was eligible once again for the IRA Championships but was unable to attend.
 
1970 crew: Ralph Neils, cox; Malcolm Klug, stroke; Conrad Hunziker, #3, James D. Puttler, #2, & Bruce Dahl, bowman.
1971 crew: Ralph Neils, cox, Malcolm Klug, stroke; Conrad Hunziker, #3, James D. Puttler, #2, & Tim Brueckner, bowman.
 
Rick Noren (Softball Coach 1995-2008)
A four-time NWC Coach of the Year, Rick Noren presided over three undefeated NWC seasons, hoisted eight NWC titles, and made seven national tournament appearances. Noren’s tenure saw the Lutes compile a 404-145-1 record during his time on campus,. Including a 240-69 mark in NWC action.

Noren hit the ground running, posting a 22-9 record in his first year at the helm, winning the first of three straight NWC titles. His second season in 1996 saw the Lutes post a perfect 17-0 record in league play before advancing to the NAIA Tournament. The Lutes would return to the NAIA Tournament the following season in 1997, finishing third in the nation.

Noren's Lutes would win five consecutive NWC titles from 1999 to 2003, punching a ticket to the NCAA Division III Tournament all five seasons. That included a 34-game win streak during the 2002 season that culminated in a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Division III College World Series.

Under Noren's watch there were 20 Lute no-hitters and eight perfect games while the squad finished second or higher in the NWC standings every season from 1995 to 2004.
 
Tammy Skubinna (Basketball, Field Hockey, and Tennis 1970-1974)
A three-sport athlete, Tammy Skubinna suited up for the Lutes year round in the sports of field hockey, basketball, and tennis. As a first-year, Skubinna was part of the hoops team that finished second at the conference tournament, and guided the tennis team to a perfect 7-0 record. 
 
Skubinna’s sophomore campaign saw the Lutes hoops team post an 11-4 record and once again qualify for the conference tournament.
 
As a junior, Skubinna was the team captain and leading scorer for the basketball team, a season that included a 31-24 victory over Gonzaga University.
 
Skubinna helped PLU rack up 31 wins across the three sports as a senior en route to winning the PLU Athletic Department’s George Fisher Scholar-Athlete Award. Skubinna’s prowess helped the field hockey team go 10-8-1, the hoops team posted an 11-5 mark, while the tennis squad finished the year with an 11-3 record.
 
Janelle Thorson  (Softball 1994-1997)
A two-time All-American for the Lutes, Janelle Thorson (Gunter) helped the Lutes win four straight NCIC Championships and make three NAIA National Tournament appearances. 
 
Thorson led the team in strikeouts as a first-year, posting a 1.98 ERA with 90 strikeouts while issuing just 17 walks. Thorson was limited during the 1995 season due to injury but had a breakout 1996 season, earning NWC Player of the Year accolades and First Team All-American honors from both the NAIA and the NSCA. That included winning 22 games inside the circle, helping the Lutes finish fifth at the NAIA Championships.
 
As a senior, Thorson tossed three perfect games in addition to winning a school-record 30 games inside the circle. Her 258 2/3 innings pitched remains a single season school record while her 209 strikeouts is the second most in a single season in program history. Thorson’s dominance allowed the Lutes to win 20 consecutive games and place third at the 1997 NAIA Championships.
 
Thorson was named Second Team All-American by both the NAIA and the NFCA, was the NWC Player of the Year for the second straight year and was named to the NAA All-National Tournament Team.