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N E W S L E T T E R

partan entinel

Michigan State University Varsity ‘S’ Club

VOL. 57 ISSUE 3

Our

Beaumont Tower

-as seen from

one of the

Library’s

FountainsInside:

2014 Award Winners

Honorary Members

and the year’s

Sports Accomplishments

2

2014-2015

Varsity ‘S’ Club

Executive CommitteePresident R. Paul Vance ’011st Vice President Lauren Aitch ’092nd Vice President Tim Bograkos ’04Secretary Mike Vorkapich ’94Director Emeritus David Brogan ’56 Past President Cheryl Gilliam ’81

Board of DirectorsIan Clutten ’07 !Sue Selke ’76Dave Thomas ’01!! David W. Thomas ’75Don Weatherspoon ’67! Young Alumni!Erica Mann ’11! ! Kristin Henn ’13

Office Staff: Marilyn Bria (Office Hours: M-Th, 12-4; F, 12-3)Newsletter Editor: Ron Berby

Michigan State UniversityVarsity ‘S’ Club

535 Chestnut Rd. - Rm 276East Lansing, MI 48824Phone: (517) 355-8523

Fax: (517) 355-7708Email: Staff@MSUVarsitySClub.orgWebsite: www.msuvarsitysclub.org

We value your opinion and want to know what you think about the Varsity ‘S’ Club Newsletter. Send us an e-mail, call or fax with items or topics you would like to see included in future newsletters. If you have suggestions on how to improve the publication, let us know.

Elections for the Board of Directors of the Varsity ‘S’ Club are held each spring. If you would like to serve on the Board, simply visit our website, click on the application tab, print the form, complete, and mail to the the club office.

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President’s MessageIt is a special honor and privilege to begin my term as President of the MSU Varsity ‘S’ Club. Our outgoing President, Cheryl Gilliam, deserves an enormous thank you from all of us for guiding the club so ably over the past three years. Cheryl’s shoes will be impossible to fill. Luckily for all of us, Cheryl will continue to serve as member of the Varsity ‘S’ Club Board of Directors in the role of past President. Her energy, enthusiasm and passion for MSU athletics and the Varsity ‘S’ Club is a standard we should all seek to achieve. Like many of you, I hold a special place in my heart for the Varsity ‘S’ Club. My grandfather lettered in football in the mid-1930’s under head coach Charlie Bachman.

He was a member of the Varsity ‘S’ Club and a devoted Spartan. Although he passed away before I was born, I vividly remember visiting the old Club room with my grandmother as a young child and learning about the Club’s rich history and traditions. My varsity letters serve as both a tangible connection and spiritual bond to my grandfather, a man I was never able to meet. Each of us has our own story of what it means to be an MSU letterwinner. What is your story? What does your varsity letter mean to you? I ask that you share your stories with us and become more involved with the Club as we continue in “Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present and Supporting the Future.” As we embark on the next three years, I look forward to serving our membership and hope to continue our mission to make the Varsity ‘S’ Club the best letterwinners club in the nation. For this to be possible, we will need everyone’s help, engagement and support. Being elected President of the Varsity ‘S’ Club is a special honor for me and I will do my best to serve our members during my term. Go Green! -Paul Vance

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The JACK BRESLIN LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD is presented to the Spartan varsity alumnus whose post-college career has brought honor to him and to Michigan State University and its sports progerams.

DEAN LOOK was an All-American football player at MSU in the late 1950s, He was drafted by the old American Football League’s Denver Broncos, but actually played for the AFL’s New York Titans in 1962. He also had a brief stint in Major League Baseball, playing for the Chicago White Sox of the American League. However, he was most notably known for his 29 years as a National Football League official, Look’s official number was 49, a number he wore in working Super Bowl XIII in 1979, Super Bowl XV in 1981, and Super Bowl XXVII in 1993. He was famously known as the side judge who signalled touchdown on the 1982 Joe Montana to Dwight Clark pass which won the NFC for the San Francisco 49ers.

The NELL JACKSON OUTSTANDING ALUMNA AWARD is presented annually to a Spartan varsity alumna whose career since graduating from Michigan State University has been distinguished not only by outstanding professional accomplishments, but also by an exceptional record of community service.

ALEXANDRA WIESNER started her tennis career at The Lanising Racquet Club where she was coached by three-time Big Ten MSU Champion, Sue Selke. Competing for East Lansing High School in the mid-‘80s, she won numerous conference and regional championships. A founding member of Women Working Wonders within the Sparrow Foundation, which has raised over a million dollars in the last ten years, she created a fund-raising race which features participants running with members of MSU’s Womens Basketball team on a training run. She’s also active in the Junior League as well as with Habitat for Humanity. She and husband Doug enjoy cheering on chess and soccer sons Matt and Nick.

The HENRY C. BULLOUGH VARSITY ‘S’ SERVICE AWARD is presented annually to an MSU varsity letter winner who has demonstratred continuing outstanding volunteer service and devotion to MSU athletics on a local, state, national or international level, and who possesses the highest standards of integrity and character to positively reflect and enhance the presige of MSU.

MIKE VORKAPICH works closely with MSU players to maximize their strength and fitness, both in-season and off-season. Though he played football at MSU, he was raised in Canada and has an affinity for hockey. Graduating in 1994, he served as an MSU graduate assistant from 1995 to 1997. He returned to the Spartans after stints as strength and fitness coach at Notre Dame and Cincinnatti. He earned both his bachelors and masters degrees in physical education and exercise science from MSU, and holds certifications with the American Red Cross, as well as the Collegiate and National Strength and Conditioning Coaches Associations. He continues to serve as a member of the “S‘ Club Board of Directors.

The VANSPYBROOK RETIRED COACHES AWARD is presented annually to the male or female coach whose coaching career has brought great honor personally, and by reflection, to Michigan State and its intercollegiate athletic program.

JENNIFER PARKS has been a winning coach of women’s swimming everywhere she’s been. In the early 1960s her Detroit Immaculata high school team won three CYO Detroit Championships. She moved east and her teams at SUNY-Cortland and Wellesley College were succesful. At MSU, where she was an Assistant Professor of Health and Physical Education and later as Assistant Sports School Director from 1973 to 1986, her MSU women’s swim teams challenged in the Big Ten, AIAW and NCAA, producing 20 All-Americans. In the one year she coached at Eastern Michigan, her swimmers beat MSU for the first time ever in a dual meet. She finished her career as a full Professor at Ferris State.

The CHERYL M. GILLIAM YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD is presented to the male or female who, since graduating from Michigan State University, shows promise of a distinguished career not only by outstanding professional accomplishments, but also by an exceptional record of community service. They represent Michigan State University with integrity and respect within communities where they live and work.

TRAVIS B. KEY was an all-around athlete at Three Rivers High School in 2003, and walked-on to MSU’s football team that fall. He earned a scholarship after that, was named to three Academic All-Big Ten teams, and was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten and team Captain his senior year. He then had a two-year stint in the NFL with five teams, Detroit and Cleveland among them. He held the position of Project Engineer for Fellowes, Inc. from 2010 to 2013, earning a Masters of Science in Packaging along the way, and presently works for The Kellogg Company. He’s now an Associate Director with “4th and one, East Lansing,” a free camp for at-risk high school students, combining football and life skills classes.

2014 VARSITY ‘S’ CLUB ANNUAL AWARD WINNERS

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2014 AWARD WINNERS (cont.)The JOEY M. SPANO VARSITY ‘S’ CLUB FELLOWSHIP is presented annually to assist Michigan State University Student-Athletes advance their knowledge and transform their lives in their respective quests for excellence.

KRISTIN HENN came out of Prospect, a suburb of Louisville, Kentrucky, to play field hockey for the Spartans. Her coach, Helen Knull, has high praise for her, lauding her strong work ethic and passion in while being a third-year Captain and All-Big Ten selection. By her final season she was already in the Graduate School of Biosystems Enginering, which impressed her coach all the more. Knull described her as a mentor to younger players with a fierce loyalty to the team. Kristin, though commited to studies and team, was also busy in community service. She was involved in several efforts: National Reading Month, No More Sidelines, Chuck-a-Puck, Haven House and the Student-Athlete Food Drive.

2014 VARSITY ‘S’ CLUB HONORARY MEMBERS

ROBERT CANTRELL was the Exective Producer of the Freaky Deaky Flashback Mobile App Game and has long been a big supporter of MSU sports, especially football and basketball. He provided eight interns from the MSU GEL lab work experience. He’s an annual Homecoming Parade participant and Annual Pentwater MSU Kick Off Tailgate Parade, driving his Roadsters. A member of the Rebounders Club, he holds season tickets for football and basketball. Current project: honoring 1957 teams who had a ‘World” championship in football and reached final four in basketball in the same year.

JAMES CONSTANDT has served in MSU sports information and event management since 1976, working hockey, football, basketball and track. He earned his Bachelors at Wayne State, as well as Masters and Doctorate degrees in Public Administration at Western Michigan. Since 1982 he’s been a volunteer press officer for the United States Olympic Committee. He has worked numerous sports festivals as well as Olympics in South Korea, Norway, Japan, Salt Lake City, Bejing, Vancouver and Atlanta. He’s a published author with the International Society of Olympic Historians.

HARRIET DEAN is a native of Flint and earned a Bachelors in Human Ecology at MSU as well as a Masters in Human Resources Public Administration at Central Michigan. An employee of Eaton County, she has worked in direct case management with the Michigan Works Job Training Partnership, in substance abuse, and most recently in truancy. She’s been active with the Downtown Coaches Club, the Duffy Daugherty Award Committee and the MSU Gymnastics Booster Club. Her tailgate has been listed as “the best in the Big Ten,” and her 1970 VW Beetle appears at many MSU parades.

WALT DRENTH began his coaching career in cross country and track at CMU in 1986 with one District Title, three MAC titles and three Central Collegiate titles. From 1990 to 1995 he coached at William and Mary, his cross country and track teams winning seven conference titles and one district title. In eight years at Arizona State he took the Sun Devils from the bottom of the Pac-10 to near the top, advancing to the NCAA meet eight times. And since 2004 his Spartan teams improved greatly in winning six titles, the most in decades. Overall, he has been named “Coach of the Year” 21 times! ./JEFF KOVAN earned a BS In Psychology at MSU in 1983, attended its College of Osteopathiic Medicine and then did his Residency in Family Medicine at Lansing’s St. Lawrence Hospital. He then did a Fellowship at MSU in Primary Care Sports Medicine. He served as Head Primary Care Team Physician at Western Michigan from 1991 to 1995, and since has been the Head Team Physician and Director of Sports Medicine at MSU, caring for State athletes across all sports. Last year he was named a Team Physician for the U. S. Olymipic Committee, serving at the Sochi Paralympic Games.

BETH MARINEZ considers herself to be very lucky. Growing up in East Lansing, her first job was as a cashier at the Campus Bookstore, which her father managed. She was soon employed at MSU, working in the Alumni Office from 1978 to 1981, the Wharton Center from 1981 to 1985, and then for 29 years with the Athletic Department! She’s worked for noted coaches including Grady Peninger, Richard Fetters, Stan Drobac, Jud Heathcote, Karen Langeland, and for 19 years with Tom Izzo. She feels privileged to have enjoyed many games, tournaments and friendships over the years.

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MICHIGAN STATE ATHLETIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS - 2013-14Team Honors: Big Ten Championships: Women’s Basketball, Women’s Cross Country, Football, Women’s Golf, Men’s Basketball (Tournament) & Field Hockey (Tournament)

NCAA Tournament Appearances - Teams: Men’s Basketball (Elite 8), Women’s Cross Country (6th in NCAA), Men’s Soccer (Elite 8), Women’s Basketball (2nd round), Field Hockey (Second Round), Women’s Golf and Volleyball (Sweet 16), & Football (Rose Bowl Champions!) NCAA Tournament Appearances - Individuals: Men’s Cross Country (qualifier), Men’s and Women’s Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field (qualifiers), Men’s and Women’s Diving (qualifiers), Gymnastics (qualifiers) & Wrestling (qualifiers) Individual Honors: NCAA Champion - Leah O’Connor - 3,000 Meter Steeplechase 18 All-Americans 7 Big Ten Championships: Antonio James - Indoor Shot Put, Tori Franklin - Indoor and Outdoor Triple Jump, Leah O’Connor - Indoor Mile, Outdoor 1500 Meters and 3,000 Meter Steeplechase, Lauren Chorney - Outdoor Pole Vault 65 All-Big Ten (25 First-Team) 8 All-Big Ten Freshman Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year - Kori Moster - Volleyball

Coaching Honors: Walt Drenth (Women’s Cross Country) - Big Ten Coach of the Year Mark Dantonio (Football) Big Ten Coach of the Year Damon Rensing (Men’s Soccer) NSCAA Great Lakes Regional Coach of the Year Helen Knull (Field Hockey) NFHCA West Region Coach of the Year

Compiled by Shelley Appelbaum

At left:

A horse is worked out at MSU’s new

Pavilion, located south of campus

at Mt. Hope Rd. and Farm Lane

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1950sLouis Costanzo, Football, Baseball 1954-55 - Louis lives in Dunmore, PA and is a retired teacher and former baseball and football coach. He is the owner of Pennsylvania driving schools.Glenn MacDonald, Hockey 1957-59 - Glenn lives in London, Ontario. He retired from teaching in 1995. He plays hockey 3 mornings a week from October to April!Carl “Buck” Nystrom, Football, Hockey 1952-55 - Buck lives in Marquette, MI,and is retired. He enjoys his cottage, gardening, golf, fishing, flower production and wood cutting. He “executes” four football summer camps.1960sWilliam Boughner, Cheerleader1965-66 - William lives in Poquoson, VA, recently moving there. He retired from the California DOT (CALTRANS) after 38 years in the Los Angeles Office. Robert Jenkins, Baseball 1962-65 - Robert lives in St. Petersburg, FL. He retired from the St. Petersburg Times after 39 years and is now a freelance travel writer. Since Nov. of 2012 he has been on six cruises, including Antarctica, and seeing Polar Bears in Manitoba, selling articles on most of the travel.Art Link, Cross Country, Track 1965-68 - Art lives in Farmington, Hills, MI but is enjoying retirement in Glen Lake, MI. He plays golf, works in his wood shop, and enjoys seeing his grandkids in sports. Jill Losee, (now Hoehlein) Field Hockey 1962-63 - Jill lives in Hesperus, CO and is an adjunct instructor in biology/anatomy & physiology at Southwest Colorado Community College. She’s very involved in pet/animal rescue and environmental issues.

Michael Olson, Hockey, Baseball 1968-70 - Michael lives in Peoria, IL and is a retired teacher and coach. He’s also an associate scout for the Seattle Mariners.1970sTom Bigford, Soccer 1971-72 - Tom lives in Silver Spring, MD and just retired as a marine ecologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. His second career is as Policy Director of the American Fisheries Society. He anticipates MSU’s soccer team playing Maryland in September. Bryan (Bud) Cammett, Hockey 1976-77 - Bud lives in West Chester, OH and just retired from the Chrysler Group after 31 years. He played senior “A” hockey and refereed for 25 years, but had 7 knee surgeries including three replacements in nine years. But he is enjoying time with grandkids.Robin Dilday, Baseball 1972-73 - Robin lives in Shelby Township, MI. He has been Athletic Director for Utica Community Schools for the last 30 years.Thomas Hardenbergh, Lacrosse 1972-74 - Thomas ranges between Manistee, MI and St Augustine, FL. He is a retired Marine aviator, engineer, and high school math teacher. Mark Havitz, Cross Country 1977-78 - Mark lives in Kitchener, Ont., Canada. He is a Professor and Chair of the Dept. of RLS at the University of Waterloo, Canada. He’s currently compiling an full history of the MSU Cross Country program from 1907 to present.Heidi Masser, Volleyball 1977-78 - Heidi lives in San Antonio, TX. She’s a Business Technology Executive in Financial Services and encourages and supports women in IT to realize their potential.

Dianne Phillips, Field Hockey and Basketball 1971-75 - Dianne lives in Southfield, MI. She retired in 2010 from teaching. She has coached high school volleyball (37 years) as well as club volleyball.Philip Rashead, Baseball 1969-71- Philip lives in Flint, MI and is Regional & Sales Manager for Purves Construction, a disaster response and restoration company.Becky Dickieson, (now Stuart) Volleyball & Tennis 1971-75 - Becky lives in Richmond, MI and just retired after teaching physical education and coaching for 39 years. She looks to a new career in community wellness. 1980sCatherine Costello, (now Bennett) Field Hockey 1979-82 - Catherine lives in Bethlehem, GA and was an assistant and head coach at the collegiate level for five years. She’s now Organizational Development Manager at Athens/Clarke County Governments in Athens, GA.Gary Harpell, Hockey 1978-82 - Gary lives in Atherton, CA. He is a father of 4 (daughter goes to MSU). He’s an executive at Arista Networks and coaches in the San Jose Junior Sharks Program. Steven Hirsch, Gymnastics 1984-88 - Steve lives in West Bloomfied, MI. He’s an attorney in the Detroit area, specializing in Workers Compensation injuries.Kelly Smyles, (now Beachy) Swimming & Diving - 1985-89 - Kelly recently moved to South Barrington, IL, a Chicago suburb. She is a stay home mom and volunteer who loves seeing all the Spartans in Chicago.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

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Additional merchants will be added as the program develops. For more information about the program, contact the Varsity ‘S’ Club office at 517-355-8523 or the committee members listed below:

Ron Berby - 517-290-8043, Wally Dobler - 517-372-8096, Eldon VanSpybrook - 248-895-0015

Albert’s Furniture - 32344 Michigan Ave. - WayneApplebee’s - 2284 Woodlake Drive - OkemosArby’s - 2220 Jolly Rd. - OkemosBell’s Greek Pizza - 1135 E. Grand River Ave. - East LansingBravo! Cuchina Italiana - Eastwood Town Center - LansingCosi - 301 E. Grand River Ave. - East LansingDusty’s Cellar - 1839 W Grand River Ave. - OkemosEmil’s Italian Restaurant - 2012 E Michigan Ave. - LansingForest Akers West Pro Shop - MSU Golf CoursesGrand Traverse Pie Co. - 1401 E Grand River Ave. - East LansingGrand Traverse Pie Co - 3536 Meridian Crossing - Okemos Gilbert & Blake Steak & Seafood - 3554 Okemos Rd. - OkemosHarper’s - 131 Albert Avenue - East LansingHolden & Reid Clothiers - Frandor Shopping Center - Lansing Twp.Kellogg Hotel - State Room Restaurant - MSU CampusKellogg Hotel - Gift Shop - MSU CampusLeo’s Lodge - 2525 E. Jolly Rd. - LansingLeo’s Outpost - 600 S. Pennsylvania Ave. - LansingLeo’s Spirits and Grub - 2085 W Grand River Ave. - OkemosMichael’s (Framing Dept. only) - Frandor Shopping Center - Lansing Twp.Panera Bread - Frandor Shopping Center - Lansing Twp.Panera Bread - 4738 Central Park Dr. - OkemosThe Pizza House - 4790 S. Hagadorn, Suites 114-116 - East LansingReno’s East Sportsbar & Grill - 1310 Abbot Rd. - East LansingReno’s West Sportsbar & Grill - 5001 W. Saginaw Hwy. - LansingSpartan Book Store - International Center - CampusSpartan Hall of Fame Cafe - 1601 Lake Lansing Rd. - East LansingStudent Book Store - 421 E. Grand River Ave - East LansingTrippers - Frandor Shopping Center - Lansing Twp.Velocipede Peddler - 2758 Grand River Ave. - East LansingWoody’s Oasis - 1050 Trowbridge Rd. - East Lansing

Michigan State University Varsity ‘S’ ClubMerchant Discount Program

The Varsity ‘S’ Club coordinates a program with several campus-area merchants to give club members a discount on purchases when you present your membership card. So if you live in the East Lansing area, or when you visit campus, please patronize these fine merchants who support MSU athletics. Listed below are merchants participating in the program. Discount amounts vary by merchant, so please check with your cashier or waitperson prior to ordering.

8

Nonprofit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDEast Lansing, MI

Permit No. 21

Michigan State UniversityVarsity ‘S’ Club

535 Chestnut Rd., Rm. 276East Lansing, MI 48824

Forwarding Service Requested

SAVE THE DATES -Aug. 29, 2014 Tailgate on Demonstration Hall Field

- MSU vs. Jacksonville StateSept. 18-20, 2014 (Thur.-Sat.) - Reunion weekend - MSU vs. Eastern Michigan

Sept. 26 &27, 2014 - Homecoming: Parade (‘S” Club members, alumni,letterwinners and families invited to march) - and Game vs. WyomingOct. 4, 2014 - ‘S’ Club Young Alumni tailgate party - pre-Nebraska gameDec. 31, 2014 - last day to submit candidates for 2015 ‘S’ Club Awards

Does your Varsity Jacket, which fit when you were twenty, seem tiny these days? Or, do the moths like it even more than you do?

Take heart. A Varsity ‘S’ Club Replacement Jacket may be just what you need!

Interested? Contact the Club office at: 517/355-8523

NoticesTop: Pictured is Dean Look, this year’s Jack Breslin Life Achievement Awardee. A picture in our Winter Issue was wrongly shown as Dean. His bio is shown on an earlier page in this issue.

Bottom:Joe Barrie, 103, Football 1934-35 - Died July 13th, 2014 - Featured in two 2012 issues, he told us the truly remarkable story of how he ended up starring for Michigan State College in two victories over the University of Michigan and it’s captain, Gerald Ford.

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