WE COUNTED DOWN TOP 25 MOMENTS IN LU ATHLETICS HISTORY

In celebration of the 175th anniversary of Lawrence University’s founding in 1847, the Department of Athletics chose the top 25 moments in Lawrence sports history.

Joe Vanden Acker, director of athletic media relations since 1999, led the project, seeking guidance from Rick Peterson, sports information director from 1979 until he moved into Lawrence’s Office of Communications in 1993 (he retired in 2018), and Kim Tatro, longtime coach and former director of athletics.

As it is with any list, the rankings are up for debate. That’s part of the fun.

“I think, in the end, we came up with a list that honored the great history of Lawrence athletics, and it was an amazing walk down memory lane,” Vanden Acker said.

No. 1: Men’s basketball ranked No. 1 in the nation and posts undefeated regular season in 2005–06;

No. 2: Football wins NCAA playoff game, earns berth in 1981 national semifinals;

No. 3: Men’s basketball makes run to Elite Eight in 2004 NCAA Tournament;

No. 4: Jiayi Ling wins Lawrence’s first NCAA title with 1994 victory in long jump;

No. 5: Andy Kazik caps perfect 2002 season with NCAA wrestling title;

No. 6: Sara Schye pitches Lawrence to pair of NCAA Tournament wins in 1998;

No. 7: Men’s hockey pulls off epic comeback against St. Norbert in December 2013;

No. 8: 1967 football team posts perfect season;

No. 9: Mallory Koula’s 42-second hat trick in 2011;

No. 10: Mike Gattnar wins 1996 NCAA title in epee;

No. 11: Keven Bradley’s buzzer-beater preserves perfect season and delivers 2006 Midwest Conference title;

No. 12: (tie) Josh Janusiak runs to All-America honors in 2018/1950 cross country team eighth in nation;

No. 13: No. 1 Lawrence men’s basketball team hosts 2006 NCAA Division III sectional;

No. 14: Kate Leventhal runs to All-America cross country honors in 1981;

No. 15: Football beats Ripon in final seconds to secure third straight Midwest Conference title in 1981;

No. 16: Men’s basketball breaks 54 -year drought by winning 1997 Midwest Conference title;

No. 17: Keven Bradley scores final 20 points for men’s basketball in win over Ripon in January 2006;

No. 18: Cross country sweeps Midwest Conference titles in 2021;

No. 19: Basketball stars Kenya Earl, Brad Sendell chase scoring titles in 2021–22;

No. 20: Jim Miller takes 12th at 1978 NCAA Cross Country Championships;

No. 21: Remarkable turnaround for women’s basketball in 1987–88;

No. 22: Aljay Wren and Nick Maxam team up for 99-yard touchdown pass in 2006;

No. 23: Lawrence women’s soccer beats Aurora 2-1 for first NCAA Tournament win in 2001;

No. 24: Lawrence football beats Coe 14-10 in 1986 MWC Championship Game;

No. 25: Lawrence football makes ABC-TV debut vs. Cornell in 1980.

See details on each at lawrence.edu, including some honorable mentions.