Top performers, Wall of Fame inductees and three more national championships

Top performers, Wall of Fame inductees and three more national championships

UWL's Eagle athletic teams have built a rich tradition of outstanding achievement, and each season brings many new stories worth celebrating.

From team victories and national championships to individual performance and inspiring personal journeys, UWL's stude nt-athletes continued to shine both in competition and in the classroom in 2025-26.

The Eagles earned their best finish in the NCAA Division III Learfield Directors' Cup Standings in more than a decade, highlighted by national titles in men's cross country and men's and women's outdoor track and field. Along the way, Eagle student-athletes demonstrated the skill, determination and competitive spirit that have made UWL a premier program in D -III athletics.

This year's issue of the Lantern also recognizes th ose who laid the foundation for that success - the coaches, educators and alumni who se enduring impact continues to inspire future generations of Eagles.

Sexton soars as Eagles rediscover winning ways.

After one of the most challenging seasons in program history, the UW-La Crosse volleyball team engineered a remarkable turnaround in 2025, eclipsing 20 victories for the first time since 2021.

At the center of the resurgence was junior Kayla Sexton, who led the Eagles in kills, finished second in digs and helped the program earn its first conference tournament berth in four years and first tournament win in nearly a decade.

"I just feel like we were having a lot of fun. Everyone was really in it to play for each other," Sexton says. "We weren't always the biggest team, or had the tallest girls, the strongest girls, but we genuinely just had fun together and wanted to do it together."

In May, Sexton graduated a year early with a degree in psychology. She credits her teammates for supporting her on and off the court, starting in her freshman year.

"Just coming in and hanging out with the team all day, every day, right away, it was so helpful," Sexton says. "I feel like, if I had transitioned in and not had that support right away or not had those people that felt like family, it would have been really hard for me."

Sexton also excelled in the classroom. In December 2025, she was one of three UWL volleyball players selected to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® Team, joined by Taylor Larson and Grace Nommensen.

Sexton's early graduation gave her a head start pursuing her career, but it meant forfeiting her senior season. She remains optimistic about the future of the program, citing a strong incoming class and several returning starters.

Head Coach Deb Sazama says last year's squad built a strong foundation.

"Kayla and her class have changed the trajectory of our program," Head Coach Deb Sazama says. "I will forever be grateful."

UWL standouts to join Wall of Fame

Five former student-athletes and a current head coach make up the 2026 UW-La Crosse Wall of Fame Class. The six inductees include former student-athletes Scott Burnoski, Bria Moede (Halama), Taylor Kohlwey, Kari Livingston and Shelly Weyers, and current head wrestling Coach Dave Malecek.

The inductees will be recognized at a campus celebration on Saturday, Oct. 17. The Wall of Fame pays tribute to former student-athletes, coaches and staff members for their exceptional ability and enhancement of UWL's athletic tradition.

Scott Burnoski - Football (2001-04)

• Three-time All-WIAC • 2004 WIAC Player of the Year
• 2004 Gagliardi Trophy Finalist
• 2004 D3football.com All-America Second Team
• School career leader in receptions (195), second in receiving yards (3,004) and touchdowns (30)
• Member of three (2002-04) WIAC Championship and NCAA III playoff teams

Bria Moede (Halama) - Track and field (2014-16)

• Ten NCAA III All-America honors (five indoor, five outdoor)
• Won three NCAA triple jump titles (2015 indoor, 2016 indoor and outdoor)
• Member of NCAA champion 4x400-meter relay (2014, 2015 indoor)
• Won six WIAC individual titles (2014 indoor triple jump, 2015 and 2016 outdoor triple jump, 2016 outdoor 400-meter dash)
• Member of six WIAC Championship teams; 2015 NCAA Outdoor title team
• 2016 WIAC Scholar-Athlete, 2015 and 2016 College Sports Communicators Academic All-America®

Taylor Kohlwey - Baseball (2013-16)

• Selected in 21st Round of 2016 MLB Draft by San Diego Padres
• Six-time NCAA III All-America
• 2016 American Baseball Coaches Association and D3baseball.com National Player of the Year
• Three-time All-WIAC First Team (2014, 2016 Position Player of the Year)
• Second-longest hitting streak in NCAA III history (51 games)
• Ranks in top four in seven offensive categories in school history

Kari Livingston - Gymnastics (1992-96)

• 2021 National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) Hall of Fame
• Six-time NCGA All-America (three in all-around, two in uneven parallel bars, one in vault)
• Won five WIAC titles (two all-around; one on vault, uneven parallel bars, floor exercise)
• 1996 NCGA All-Academic, 1996 WIAC Scholar-Athlete
• Member of two (1994, 1995) WIAC Championship teams
• Member of 1995 NCGA Championship team

Shelly Weyers - Swimming and diving (1985-88)

• WIAC All-Time Swimming & Diving Team
• Five career NAIA All-America honors
• Won two national titles (100 and 200 freestyle in 1988)
• Won two WIAC titles (200 and 500 freestyle in 1988)
• Helped team to four top-12 NAIA finishes
• Helped team to four top-four WIAC finishes

Dave Malecek - Wresting (2007-present)

• Completed 20th season as head wrestling coach in 2025-26
• Led team to school-best three second-place finishes at NCAA Championships (2008, 2010, 2026)
• Coached 15 NCAA champions and 77 All-Americas
• Led team to 14 WIAC titles and 86 individual championships
• Two-time (2024, 2025) National and four-time (2015, 2018, 2020, 2025) Regional Coach of the Year

Another honor for an Eagle great

Former coach and student-athlete Barry Schockmel is the latest UW-La Crosse recipient of the prestigious Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Special Recognition Award.

The award recognizes individuals who have made unique contributions and/or served the conference in an official capacity over a number of years.

Schockmel, '67, is the 12th honoree from UWL, joining Lee Stephenson, Carol Bassuener, Judith Kuipers, Roger Harring, Doug Hastad, Mark Guthrie, Joe Baker, Jearold Holland, Jodie Rindt, Barb Gibson and Pat Healy.

Schockmel served as the UWL diving coach for 50 years, and as an assistant coach in football and track and field. He started as an assistant football coach in 1969 and remained in the role for 35 years. During that time, UWL won 18 conference championships and won three national titles.

Schockmel became UWL's defensive coordinator in 2001, and went on to be named the WIAC Assistant Coach of the Year and the AFLAC National Assistant Coach of the Year while serving in the role.

In the pool, Schockmel was credited with guiding the development of UWL's divers. The Eagles earned the WIAC Women's Diver of the Meet in 12 of the 18 years it was awarded, and claimed the men's award four times. UWL won 20 women's team conference championships and four men's team titles in his time as coach.

Schockmel also served as a volunteer track and field coach from 1969 to 1975.

As a student, Schockmel competed in gymnastics for two years, track and field for three years and football for four years.

He was inducted into the UWL Wall of Fame in 1996 and the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2007.

Doberstein honored for impact on the field, in the classroom

After a career spent caring for student-athletes and educating future generations of health care professionals, UW-La Crosse's Scott Doberstein has earned a place in the Wisconsin Athletic Trainers' Association (WATA) Hall of Fame.

Doberstein earned a bachelor's degree in sports medicine and school health education from UWL in 1987 and a master's in exercise science from Eastern Illinois University in 1989. He served as head athletic trainer and assistant professor at Millikin University in Illinois from 1989 to 1998.

Doberstein returned to UWL in 1998 to serve as head athletic trainer and lecturer. He was the Eagles' head athletic trainer for 16 years, the longest tenure in school history for that position. He was promoted to teaching professor in 2008 and has been a full-time lecturer since 2014.

Doberstein has earned WATA's Distinguished Service Award (2005), UWL's Provost Teaching Excellence Award (2014), UWL's Physician Assistant Program Instructor of the Year Award (2015) and WATA's Outstanding Educator Award (2016).

He says this latest recognition is particularly meaningful.

"Being inducted into the WATA Hall of Fame is an incredibly emotional milestone that leaves me deeply humbled," he says. "My greatest joy has always been watching my students and student- athletes grow. Knowing I played a small part in their lives, and seeing those I mentored graduate and thrive in their own careers, is the ultimate reward, far greater than any personal accolade. This honor truly belongs to every student who inspired me to pour my heart into this profession every single day."

Doberstein has taught over 25 courses in UWL's Exercise & Sport Science undergraduate program and in various graduate programs, including athletic training, physician assistant studies, physical therapy, clinical exercise physiology and nurse anesthesia.

He has published over 100 manuscripts/ abstracts and served on approximately 110 undergraduate research and graduate thesis committees.

Doberstein's wife, Caryl, '83, is also a graduate of UWL. The couple has three children, all of whom are studying or employed in medicine.

"I am profoundly grateful to my family for their unconditional love and sacrifices," he says, "and to my incredible colleagues whose support made this journey possible."

Eagles earn best Directors' Cup finish since 2010

UW-La Crosse finished eighth in the 2025-26 NCAA Division III LEARFIELD Directors' Cup Standings - the Eagles' best finish in over a decade.

UWL was the top Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference university in this year's standings, finishing with a school-record 987.00 points. The Eagles have now recorded a dozen top-10 finishes overall, including a school-best seventh in 2003-04, 2004-05, 2006-07 and 2009-10.

2025-26 team finishes

• Women's tennis - 1st (WIAC); NCAA III Second Round
• Soccer - 1st (WIAC); NCAA III Second Round
• Volleyball - T-6th (WIAC)
• Women's cross country - 1st (WIAC); 12th (NCAA III)
• Men's cross country - 1st (WIAC); 1st (NCAA III)*
• Football - T-2nd (WIAC); NCAA III Third Round
• Women's golf - 4th (WIAC)
• Wrestling - 2nd (WIAC); 2nd (NCAA III)
• Men's swimming and diving - 1st (WIAC); 41st (NCAA III)
• Men's basketball - T-2nd (WIAC); NCAA III Sweet 16
• Women's basketball - 2nd (WIAC); NCAA III Elite 8
• Gymnastics - 3rd (WIAC); 2nd (NCGA)
• Men's indoor track and field - 1st (WIAC); 2nd (NCAA III)
• Women's outdoor track and field - 1st (WIAC); 4th (NCAA III)
• Men's outdoor track and field - 1st ( WIAC); 1st (NCAA III)*
• Women's outdoor track and field - 1st (WIAC); 1st (NCAA III)*
• Softball - T-6th (WIAC)
• Baseball - 2nd (WIAC); NCAA III Regional
• Men's tennis - 2nd (WIAC)
• Lacrosse - 3rd (WIAC)

*National championship