MADISON, Wis. (blugolds.com)-The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) has announced the members of its 2022 Hall of Fame class which includes three former UW-Eau Claire Athletes, Alex Hicks, Mike Ratliff, and Kristi (Griggs) Walston. The WIAC established a Hall of Fame to coincide with the conference's celebration of its 100th anniversary, which took place during the 2012-13 academic year.
Alex Hicks---UW-Eau Claire (1989-92*)
Hicks was a member of UW-Eau Claire's men's ice hockey team from 1989-92 and a three-time NCAA Division III All-America First Team selection from the American Hockey Coaches Association – the only individual in program history to accomplish the feat. He scored 249 points with 98 goals and 151 assists. His career point total ranks 16th in NCAA Division III history and second in conference archives, while the 151 assists are sixth on the NCAA list and top the conference entries. During the 1989-90 season, Hicks tallied 48 assists – the best single-season mark in conference history. Following his Blugold career, Hicks embarked on a 15-year professional career that included five years in the National Hockey League. He played 258 games between Anaheim, Pittsburgh, San Jose and Florida, scoring 25 goals with 54 assists for 79 points. In 2012, he was selected to the WIAC Men's Ice Hockey All-Time Team in conjunction with the conference's Centennial Celebration.
Mike Ratliff^ ---UW-Eau Claire (1969-72*)
Ratliff was a member of UW-Eau Claire's men's basketball team from 1969-72 and is the only individual in conference history to earn Player of the Year honors three times, receiving the distinction in 1970, 1971 and 1972. Ratliff started 108 consecutive games and scored 1,994 points with 1,492 rebounds and 274 blocked shots to help the Blugolds post a 94-14 record and three conference titles during his four years. His rebounds total still top the conference career list, while the blocked shots are third. In 1972, UW-Eau Claire finished as the NAIA national runner-up and Ratliff received All-America First Team recognition from Associated Press, United Press International, NAIA and the Basketball Coaches Association. He was selected in the second round (28th overall) by the Kansas City-Omaha Kings in the 1972 National Basketball Association Draft. In 2012, he was selected to the WIAC Men's Basketball All-Time Team in conjunction with the conference's Centennial Celebration.
Kristi (Griggs) Walston---UW-Eau Claire (1985-88)
Kristi (Griggs) Waltson was a member of UW-Eau Claire's women's volleyball team from 1985-88 and a two-time NCAA Division III All-American from the American Volleyball Coaches Association, securing first team recognition in 1988 and second team honors in 1987. Walston was a member of UW-Eau Claire's first two teams that participated in the NCAA Division III Championship (1987 and 1988), when only 24 teams qualified. The 1987 squad produced a sterling 52-3 record – the most in program history for a single season – and won the conference title. She was a three-time all-conference first team selection and owned school single season records upon graduation with 485 kills, 1,037 kill attempts and 59 solo blocks. In 2012, she was selected to the WIAC Women's Volleyball All-Time Team in conjunction with the conference's Centennial Celebration.
^-Deceased
