The Oshkosh West Index - Athletes honored on Wall of Fame

Volume 106, Issue 1

Online Features

Athletes honored on Wall of Fame

By A. Taylor and M. Counts
posted September 28, 2009

Jubilant fans took a breather in last Friday night's football game against Fond du Lac as three well-deserving athletes and former Oshkosh students and staff were recognized for their accomplishments. Craig Fredrick from the class of 1978, Kristine Baehman Van Damme from the class of 1984, and Harlan Quandt, who was the head baseball coach at Oshkosh High School and Oshkosh North from 1950-1972 and 1972-1987 respectively and the Oshkosh North Athletic Director from 1972-1978 were the 2009 inductees into the West's Athletic Wall of Fame. According to Athletic Director Brad Jodarski, the selection process is far from a simple decision.

"There's a committee made up of many different people such as coaches, the principal, the assistant principal, some alumni, and community members that review the candidates credentials," he said. "Based on the people that are eligible, we make a poll of who we think should be put into the wall of fame. After we vote, we look for the one obvious gap between candidates and make the decision there."

Selecting this year's inductees was challenging and took many different outlooks when it came to making the final decision.

"We had a number of candidates that we felt were very qualified," said Jodarski. "When you take a look at who has already been inducted and who is nominated, it's difficult because it's hard to compare somebody's accomplishments from the 50's or 60's versus somebody from the 70's or 80's. You have to rely on people from the committee who have a historical perspective and when we look to compare credentials, you look at what each person has to offer and you try to decide if you feel that person meets the criteria in your mind."

According to Jodarski, the decision was one well thought out and well made.

"It's a difficult process because the people that are nominated are very talented athletes and it gets difficult in determining those candidates but we are very pleased with this year's class," he said. "They all had very successful high school careers in the sports they participated in. I like to think that every class is a very deserving class."

Fredrick was a letter recipient in football, basketball, and track and field in all four years of his high school career from 1975-1978, was a member of the 1000-yard club with 1156 rushing yards in 1977, and made the final cut for the New Jersey Generals in the United States Football League, amongst a myriad of other accomplishments and recognitions.

"I was excited," said Fredrick. "It was a nice honor to be inducted into the Wall of Fame."

Fredrick advises aspiring young athletes to take nothing for granted.

"I say to the kids, work hard in the classroom, work hard in practice and listen to your coaches," he said. "Make sure you do everything life gives you."

Van Damme was a letter winner for track and field in 1981-1884, was the team MVP in 1982-1984, and is a record holder in four different events.

"It's hard work," she said, "but if you want to do the work, pursue it and also pursue your dreams."

Quandt made possible the construction of lights at E.J. Schneider Baseball Field. He also was a key designer of Peppler Baseball Field. He was unable to comment for this story but his son, Steve Quandt, was glad to answer questions on behalf of his father.

"He was very moved, it caught him by surprise," he said. "In the 70's, while he was the North High baseball coach, he said ‘The team is everything during the period of the baseball season. Nothing or no one is more important than a team. It is important for each of us, coaches and players, to be unselfish and dedicate ourselves to a team effort. As a team we succeed, as many team lessons in life can be learned."

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