SAINT MARY’S MAGAZINE SIMPLY THE BEST! Women’s softball wins NCAA National Championship SUMMER 2000 www.smumn.edu VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY RELATIONS Mary Catherine Fox, Ph.D. ’75 ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY RELATIONS Bob Conover EDITOR Donny Nadeau ’85 Phone: 507-457-1634 Fax: 507-457-6967 E-mail: [email protected] CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Donny Nadeau ’85 Bob Conover Patrick Reusse, Minneapolis Star-Tribune PHOTOGRAPHERS Bob Conover Donny Nadeau ’85 Eric Heukeshoven NCAA Photos GRAPHIC DESIGN Katherine (Sheridan ’80) Sula PRODUCTION Katherine (Sheridan ’80) Sula Pat Fleming Winona Printing Company University Magazine is published by Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota for its alumni, parents and friends. Third-class postage paid at Winona, MN 55987-1399. ADDRESS CHANGES University Magazine Saint Mary’s University 700 Terrace Heights #21 Winona, MN 55987-1399 ON THE WEB http://www.smumn.edu/magazine Check out this issue and back issues of University Magazine on the WorldWide Web. You can also get all the latest information on your alma mater, as well as direct e-mail links to faculty, staff and your fellow alumni. SAINT MARY’S MAGAZINE SUMMER VOLUME 34 NUMBER 2 2 FROM THE EDITOR When the season started, 369 teams had dreams of winning a fastpitch softball national title. Saint Mary’s made that dream come true. 3 LETTERS 4 CAMPUS NOTES & NEWS Brother Ambrose Trusk Scholarship created. … Brother Roderick featured at SMU Gallery. … Students honored at banquet. 6 SPECIAL RECOGNITION Founder’s Day, commencement are good times to recognize several of SMU’s 16 NATIONAL CHAMPS outstanding individuals. The Saint Mary’s University softball team completed its mission under the sun-drenched skies of Salem, Va., on May 19, when 9 A FOND FAREWELL senior second baseman Kateri Eddy fielded a routine ground 2000 graduation ceremonies mark new ball and threw to first to give Saint Mary’s its first-ever NCAA beginnings for seven retiring faculty Division III national championship. members. 12 SMU ON THE WWW New search engine makes web site easier to use, faster. 14 SMU SPORTS Women’s hockey team wins 2nd MIAC title. … Men’s, women’s basketball teams enjoy best seasons in nearly a decade. 24 ALUMNI NEWS 28 HOMECOMING 2000 McDonough, Walsh, Giammona, Stephenson, Schrofer and Vaickus are honored at SMU’s first homecoming of ABOVE the new millennium. The 2000 NCAA Division III national champion Saint Mary’s University 30 ALUMNI AWARD fastpitch softball team. NOMINATIONS 32 CLASS NOTES ON THE COVER SMU senior Teisha Smith is surrounded by her teammates as she 39 CALENDAR OF EVENTS holds the national championship trophy. (Photo provided by NCAA Photos.) 1 Editor’s Page From 369 to No.1 Life at Saint Mary’s: National title is one to remember Memories hen the season started, there were not just through her performance on the from the W369 teams playing NCAA Division field, but she’s also our emotional leader,” III fastpitch softball. said Tschida of his senior right-hander, who late ’40s And, thanks to a perfect run through allowed just 14 hits and four earned runs in the post-season, the Saint Mary’s University four national tournament games — includ- he Saint Mary’s Uni- team can proudly say that it is No. 1. ing a complete-game four-hitter in the title- Tversity Magazine, The Cardinals put the icing on a dream clinching victory over Chapman. “She’s a Summer 1999 issue was season on a sunny Sunday afternoon in mid- big-time player and she stepped up when read as usual. The feature May, rolling past Chapman College 5-0 in we needed her to.” story “Looking Back” was the title game of the NCAA Division III Yet, as good as Smith was, she cer- particularly enjoyed. Most Softball Champion- tainly didn’t do it alone — which was evi- of all, I enjoyed reading “A ships in Salem, Va. dent by the fact that the Cardinals landed trip down memory lane” “This is so five players on the 14-player all-tourna- by Donny Nadeau which unreal,” said SMU ment team. In the championship game recalled the diamond senior pitcher Teisha against Chapman, freshman Jackie Huegel jubilee article by Dr. Smith, sporting a laced a two-out, two-run first-inning home Michael Flanagan ‘63, grin that stretched run, while sophomore Jennifer Miller done back in 1987. from ear to ear. “I pitched in a two-out, two-run double in How the human brain remember after we SMU’s three-run sixth to ice the victory. can reminisce! Seems like Donny Nadeau ’85 won regionals, I had “This team has been on a mission all certain events cause it. Maybe it was the summer University Editor tears in my eyes and season,” explained Smith. “We did this I just couldn’t together. Every time we needed some- of 1999 issue. Maybe it believe we were body to step up, they did, and that’s what was going to my 50th going to nationals. made this team so tough to beat.” anniversary at Saint Mary’s “Now, we’re the national champions! And made the victory celebration last June. It’s such an incredible feeling, I’m not that much more special. I’m not a graduate of sure it will ever sink in.” “This group of young ladies has an Saint Mary’s. I’m an By now, the realization of what the awful lot to be proud of,” said Tschida. “Ex’49.” But I was there Cardinals have accomplished is sure to “They’ve put in a lot of time and effort to twice and learned to cher- have set in. Or, has it? get to this point — and they deserve ish it. Most of my buddies Sure, it’s been nearly two months everything they’ve earned. graduated in 1948. Two since Smith & Co. rolled through the “They should be proud of their things interfered or I would national tournament with barely a accomplishments — I know I’m proud of most likely have been a four-year graduate of what scratch. But when you sit back and think them.” was then Saint Mary’s Col- about what they accomplished, it may The Cardinals have had nearly two lege. After my freshman never quite sink in. months to savor their incredible feat, but year, I felt rather burned out “National champions.” it’s a safe bet that they’ve done so with from the pressures of a con- The Cardinals have won conference their heads in the clouds and their feet any- densed education and I titles before, but never has a team — any where but firmly planted on the ground. enlisted in the U.S. Navy Saint Mary’s team — gone where this It was a memorable journey, one that just before my 18th birth- team did. They are the best in all of I’m sure everyone involved has played day. The other reason will NCAA Division III. over and over in their minds. come later. SMU coach John Tschida has admit- And one that we’d like to share with Let me explain the ted that he has never coached a team like you. condensed education bit. this year’s. Sure, he’s had better individual So, make sure your seat belts are fas- While a junior at Cretin players, but never a team that worked so tened and your tray tables are in the High School in Saint Paul, well together.They truly were a well-oiled upright and locked position — it’s going an opportunity arose. It machine. to be a wild ride. And Smith was at the controls. A national-championship ride. (continued on page 39) “Teisha has been our leader all season, Enjoy. ≠ 2 SAINT MARY’S UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE Letters TO VIEW COMPLETE TEXT ON-LINE, GO TO: has allowed me to affirm and re- and with fidelity to His Church.” In articulate my teaching goals to my short history of formal education engage students in the process you (over the last decade) I have come emphasized—to think and to love. I across other students who arrived at continue to be grateful for the edu- the same place and time as I did. cation I received at Saint Mary’s and These were dedicated students of I look forward to using my past (and biology, chemistry, physics and liter- present) educational experiences to ature at their institutions of higher develop knowledge in others. learning, but they often seemed to Thank you for your ongoing lag behind in spiritual development. commitment to superior liberal I can honestly say that Saint Mary’s arts education. Ex Corde Ecclesiae prepared me remarkably for my Suzanne Bergfalk ’88 chosen career. I continue to discover is delightful piece Las Vegas, Nev. ways in which to learn and to share in my Catholic foundation with recently received your “A Reflec- read your recent reflection on other professionals (and patients). I tion on Ex Corde Ecclesiae” in I Ex Corde Ecclesiae and it hope to be able to give back to the mail and I read the entire docu- I brought back clear, pleasant mem- young people what so many of you ment with great interest and enthu- ories of my recent education in gave to me during college. siasm. The Ex Corde Ecclesiae shows Winona. Since then, I have that the Catholic Church continues become a bit of a “professional” Joseph P. McCormick, M.D. ’93 to create deep controversy even student, spending four years in Denver, Colo. after hundreds of years of theology, Milwaukee at the Medical College scholarship, and debate.