RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The South Dakota Mines Athletics Dept., and the Hardrock Club are pleased to announce the 2021 Hardrocker Hall of Fame inductees: Hugh Welsh (Leadership); Jennifer Hiykel (volleyball); Dan Matthaidess (basketball) Bill Brodsky (football); and the 1991-92 men's basketball team (team).
The inductees will be honored during a banquet Saturday, Sept. 25, in the Christensen Hall of Fame at the King Center in Rapid City. The induction class will also will be recognized during halftime of the homecoming football game against CSU Pueblo later that night on Dunham Field at O'Harra Stadium.
Bill Brodsky, Builder / Football
Bill Brodsky came to South Dakota Mines from Broadus, Montana. While at Mines, he joined the Hardrocker Football team and secured a position as quarterback, ending up a four-year letterman at the position from 1964-1967. He was also an All-Conference selection in 1966. While finishing his degree, Bill joined the coaching staff for a season in which he assisted with the offensive backfield and the ends.
After graduating in 1968 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Bill served in the Army Corps of Engineers until 1970. After returning from Vietnam, he began his career with Milwaukee Railroad. He earned an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago in 1987, and he had a successful career in the railroad industry, retiring as president of the Washington Transportation Group in Missoula, Montana, in 2016.
Always generous benefactors of Hardrocker Athletics, Bill and his wife, Judy, made leadership gifts to support the addition of the two-court Harvey Fraser Gym to the Newlin Wellness & Recreation Center which was completed in 2015. The Brodskys also made leadership gifts to support the Harvey Fraser Athletic Scholarship.
The gymnasium and scholarship were both named for former South Dakota Mines President Harvey Fraser.
"Dr. Harv changed my life and ultimately became a very good friend. One rarely has an opportunity to try to honor one of life's true heroes and I feel this is a great opportunity, with the support of his family, to do just that," said Brodsky.
Dan Matthaidess, Men's Basketball
Dan Matthaidess, who hailed from Moorhead, Iowa, was recruited by Coach Bob Hunt in 1959. Dan had other scholarship opportunities, but his goal was to earn a four-year degree with the chance to play basketball, and he chose South Dakota Mines.
Dan was a member of Triangle Fraternity, and he served as a March Hall Room Advisor for three years until he married Bonnie in July of 1962 after his junior year. The two lived in a little apartment within walking distance of campus.
Dan had a lifelong love for sports, especially basketball and baseball, and he holds the 13
th spot for all-time points made as a Hardrocker (1,292). He was also a member of the Hardrocker Track and Field team. Dan had a strong bond with his teammates and stayed close with several of them following graduation; some of Dan's fondest memories and most longstanding friendships came from his time at Mines. His mentoring from Coach Hunt (who was Bonnie's uncle) was another constant throughout Dan's college and career.
Dan graduated in 1963 and accepted a position at Eastman Kodak in Rochester, New York. Over his 39 years at Kodak, he held positions in engineering, advertising and marketing for the Asia Pacific Rim which provided exciting opportunities for travel to New Zealand, Australia, China, Korea, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
Upon retirement from Kodak, Dan became a financial advisor and enjoyed the next ten years serving the needs of others. He was a family man and loved spending time with Bonnie, his three children, and their families. Boating on the waters of Keuka Lake in the Finger Lakes near Rochester was one of his favorite pastimes.
Dan was to be inducted as part of the 2020 Class of the Hardrock Hall of Fame, an event which was postponed until 2021 due to COVID-19. Knowing he was selected into the Hall of Fame meant the world to him, but he sadly passed away from a sudden heart attack on December 17, 2020, and he was inducted posthumously with the Hardrock Hall of Fame Class of 2021.
Jenny Hiykel, Volleyball
Jenny Hiykel is arguably one of the best liberos the South Dakota Mines Hardrocker volleyball program has seen. A native of Omaha, Nebraska, Hiykel was a four-year starter for the Hardrockers. She was known for her energy on the court and among her teammates, and she served as a captain for the Hardrockers. She was also recognized for her work ethic and for being committed to consistently putting in hours during the off season.
Hiykel holds the top spots in single-season records of Serve Receive Passing Ratio (2.59), Serve Receive percentage (97 percent), and Total Digs (753). She was named the Dakota Athletic Conference Senior of the Year in 2008.
Hiykel was also named Libero of the Year and was a DAC All-Conference First Team Selection during both her junior and senior years. She was a DAC Scholar Athlete, received several DAC Libero of the Week and Regional Libero of the Week honors, and achieved a NAIA Libero of the Week recognition. Hiykel majored in Interdisciplinary Sciences while at South Dakota Mines.
Hugh Welsh, Leader
Hugh Welsh joined South Dakota Mines in 1986 after a successful eight-year coaching stint at Devils Lake Region Community College in North Dakota, where his teams won 194 games in eight seasons.
Welsh served as head coach of the Hardrocker men's basketball program for 19 seasons (1986-2005). During his time as head coach, he compiled a 268-273 win-loss record, took the 1997 team to a NAIA National Tournament, and acquired two conference championship titles to his credit (1994-95, 1996-97).
Welsh is the second longest-tenured coach in the men's basketball program (behind Bob Hunt, who coached the Hardrockers for 21 years). He has more wins than any men's coach in school history and was twice named the South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference Coach of the Year and Athletic Director of the Year. His career coaching record is 545 wins and 380 losses.
Other highlights of Welsh's career include single-season wins record of 22 in 1991-92; consecutive wins (11), and an undefeated home record during the 1986-87 campaign.
During his career at South Dakota Mines, the athletics program grew with the reinstallation of the men's and women's golf programs in 2001. He also presided over an overhaul in athletic facilities with the 2006 installation of state-of-the-art artificial turf at O'Harra Stadium's Dunham Field.
Other improvements made under Welsh's leadership included the addition of a multi-media scoreboard; renovated King Center varsity locker rooms; and a 4,200-square-foot Dunham Field locker room for the football team. Welsh also oversaw the construction of a new gym floor in Goodell Gymnasium.
Welsh's legacy benefited not only South Dakota Mines, but also the more than 50,000 fans from the Rapid City community and beyond who attend Mines games and athletic events to cheer on the Rockers.
1991-1992 Men's Basketball Team
The 1991-92 Hardrocker Men's Basketball Team, under the leadership of Coach Hugh Welsh, had an epic season. The team tops the list for most wins in a season (22) and is tied for most consecutive wins in a season (11).
This team also hold records for most points scored in a season (2,735), most free throws made
(635), most free throws attempted (828), and the highest free throw percentage (76.7%). The team also holds records for 3-point shots made in a season (294), 3-point attempts in a season (770), and 3-point shots attempted in game (37).
The 91-92 squad won the Hardrocker Classic and the Blue Hawk Classic, and for only the second time in school history, also won the SDIC pre-season tournament. Team members include Alan Anderson, Rick Baruth, Dave Boeselager, Aaron Carlson, Rob Christensen, Steve Griggs, Brandon Kandolin, Brett Knapp, Derek Knapp, Rusty Kocon, Jay Peppel, Marc Piwko, Mike Sailer, Mitch Slusarski, Jeramy Spicer, and Shawn Swanson. The team was coached by Head Coach Hugh Welsh and Assistant Coach Jim Gray. Their always present and faithful bus driver was Alan Swanson.
