Marian Athletics Announces Hall of Fame Class of 2023

FOND DU LAC – Marian University athletics has announced its Hall of Fame Class of 2023 consisting of Leslie (Daubert) Malak, Dave Chipman, the 1997 women’s volleyball team, and the 2001 men’s soccer team.

Leslie (Daubert) Malak was a major part of the winningest four year stretch in Marian women’s basketball history competing from 1989-1993.

Upon her induction, she ranks fourth on the all-time scoring list with 1,401 points after leading Marian to a 66-44 overall record and a 46-18 mark in LMC games over her four seasons. For her career, she is tied for the most games played in program history (111), while ranking second all-time for field goals made (534), assists (376), and steals (198). Her 154 made three-pointers also puts her fourth in the all-time records for made triples.

She earned LMC All-Conference recognition in each of the final three seasons of her career along with an NAIA All-District selection for her 1991-92 campaign. She led Marian to 19 wins in that 1991-92 season, which remains a program record for wins in a single season. She would start in all 30 games setting a program record for games played and games started in a single season. She scored 438 points on the season, her best scoring year and the seventh-best in the single-season record books, along with setting a single-season program record for assists with 123.

She was also a member of the inaugural Marian women’s soccer team playing in all 10 games and ranking second on the team for goals scored that year.

“I am appreciative of this honor,” said Malak. “My success on the court was led by determination and teamwork. I was blessed to be given an opportunity to make the program better and I took that to heart every time I stepped onto the court. I am thankful for my family, coaches, teammates and athletic staff at Marian for believing in, supporting, and pushing me to always be the best.”

Dave Chipman was an integral part of the development of the Marian NCAA men’s hockey program and remains one of the top scorers in program history.

Chipman scored 87 goals during his illustrious career sitting atop the all-time record books. He also still holds three of the top-five best single seasons for goals scored. Chipman remains the only Sabre to eclipse 150 career points sitting atop the all-time records with his 151 total points. His 25 power-play goals, 13 game-winning goals, and 10 hat tricks are all program records for a career.

In the first season of MCHA play, Chipman helped lead Marian to a 16-9-1 record and 14-3-1 ledger in conference play. Chipman was second on the squad for goals scored with 29 and points with 53 earning him Second Team All-MCHA recognition. This set him up for his best season in a Sabre sweater in his final year. The 1999-2000 campaign saw Chipman score 33 goals with 56 total points, both program records for a single season. He recorded five hat tricks with 12 power-play goals, also program records for a single season. Chipman went on to earn the first Player of the Year award in program history along with an MCHA First Team All-Conference honor.

The 1997 Marian women’s volleyball team paved the way for one of the greatest dynasties in the history of the Lake Michigan Conference.

After going just 10-23 the year prior, the 1997 squad went 29-5 with a perfect 12-0 mark in LMC action to earn the program its first conference championship. This began a run of four consecutive seasons where the Sabres went undefeated in conference play. Marian would drop just eight sets in LMC matches before sweeping Edgewood and defeating CUW in four sets to claim an LMC Tournament Championship. The .853 winning percentage in 1997 remains the best winning percentage in program history. The Sabres rattled off an 18-game winning streak during the year which also remains the longest winning streak in program history.

Marian had four student-athletes earn LMC All-Conference recognition led by Nicole (Bencal) Boice, Hall of Fame Class of 2015, who became the first Player of the Year in program history. Another Hall of Fame member in Kerri (Holz) Heubel, Class of 2012, had a breakout first season to earn LMC Newcomer of the Year honors. Doug Hammonds, Hall of Fame Class of 2014, headed the squad and earned his first of five straight LMC Coach of the Year awards.

The 2001 Marian men’s soccer team remains one of the winningest squads in program history after winning an LMC Championship and qualifying for the NCAA Tournament.

Marian went 14-3-4 in 2001 going unbeaten in LMC play with a 10-0-2 ledger. The 2001 squad boasts the second-most wins for a single season and the third-highest winning percentage for a single campaign. Offensively, the Sabres scored 47 goals, fourth-most for a single season, and recorded 142 points, the third-most for a single season. The Marian defense held up its end of the pitch boasting nine shutouts and a 0.63 goals-against average, both remain program records. The Sabres would earn a bye in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament and fell to UW-Whitewater in the second round 8-7 in penalty kicks after a 0-0 draw.

The awards piled in for the Sabres with nine student-athletes receiving postseason accolades along with Craig Peltonen earning his second of three straight LMC Co-Coach of the Year awards. Scott Merzlicker, Hall of Fame Class of 2015, led the way for Marian earning LMC Player of the Year recognition and Second Team All-Region honors. Dan Glubka was also a Second Team All-Region pick, while Mike Aliota was named the LMC Rookie of the Year.

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Homecoming weekend at Marian University kicks off Friday, September 22 with the 12th annual Korbie Classic to be held at Rolling Meadows. To register your foursome or sponsor a hole for the Korbie Classic please visit https://commerce.cashnet.com/marianustore?cname=KORBIE and click Events. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about the Korbie Classic please contact Dan Mueller at drmueller45@marianuniversity.edu.

The following day, Saturday, September 23, kicks off a busy day for Sabre athletics opening with a soccer doubleheader against Aurora with the women beginning at noon and the men to follow at 3 p.m. The Hall of Fame Class of 2023 will be honored during halftime of the women’s soccer game. The Sabre women’s volleyball team then takes on Beloit at 5 p.m. with the 1997 women’s volleyball team being honored before the game.

The Hall of Fame Induction and Alumni Awards Presentation will be Saturday, September 23 in the Sodexo Dining Room of the Stayer Center. The reception for the event begins at 5 p.m. with dinner at 6 p.m. and the awards presentation beginning at 6:45 p.m. Due to expected attendance for the event, the ceremony is currently invite only.