Badgers are Thankful for Family Ties
November 27, 2003 | General News
Thanksgiving is a time when families and friends get together, eat, laugh, eat, watch football, eat, share stories and eat. Many stories tend to be repeated over the years, but for some in the Wisconsin Badger family, there is a different kind of deja vu. For example, a conversation at the Meuer household might sound like this:
'I scored a goal versus Iowa in October ' in 2003, ' Molly said. 'I scored a goal versus Iowa in October ' in 1978, ' Kelly said.
Molly Meuer is a junior midfielder for the women's soccer team and was co-freshman of the year for the Badgers in 2001. Molly's father, Kelly, played soccer for the UW men's team, lettering from 1977-79.
From across the room, Molly's uncles, Rob and Jeff Andringa who played hockey for the Badgers, interject.
'I was a member of the Badgers' NCAA championship team ' 1990,' Rob said. 'I was a member of the Badgers' NCAA championship team ' in 1983,' Jeff said.
Or how about this imaginary dinner discussion at the Mack residence '
'Running out, playing in Camp Randall, it's an awesome, unexplainable feeling,' Jeff Sr. tells his nieces and nephews. 'Yeah, you can't explain it. Running out and playing in Camp Randall is awesome.' Jeff Jr. tells his cousins.
Jeff Jr. is a senior co-captain on the UW football team. Jeff Sr. was a wide receiver for the Badgers from 1972-74.
Sometimes rivalries between siblings or cousins are renewed at large family affairs. However, certain Badger rivalries can be productive. Let's listen in to a potential conversation between two competitive siblings.
'You know sis, I scored the game-winner against Minnesota on Nov. 15. And it was a short-handed goal!' exclaims Adam Burish. 'Yeah big bro, I tallied two goals and two assists versus St. Cloud last weekend and was named WCHA Offensive Player of the Week,' responds Nikki Burish.
Adam and Nikki are the first brother-sister duo to play hockey at the UW. Adam is a sophomore center on the men's hockey team while Nikki is a sophomore forward on the women's team.
Or how about this possible reflection on the 2003 UW men's soccer season in front of the Lions-Packers game'
'In our first year as Badgers, we did some pretty cool stuff, eh, Jed'' Aaron Holbein asks his older brother. 'Yeah, Aaron,' replies Jed Holbein. 'You were named to the first-ever Big Ten all-freshman team and also named to the All-Big Ten second team. As a defender, you started 20 games and helped Bucky to eight shutouts.'
'Yeah, but you did all the work on the other end,' adds Aaron. 'Jed, you led the team in goals, assists, points, shots, shots on goal, converted on the team's only penalty kick and tied for the team lead with three game-winners.'
Jed, a junior transfer from Southwest Missouri State, and Aaron, a freshman, are brothers on the men's soccer team. Jed is a forward while Aaron was a U-17 all-American defender last year.
Family ties run deep and strong. And people involved with the Wisconsin Badgers are strongly linked and feel a sense of family. When combined, it 's easy to see why many siblings, children and parents end up attending and competing at the University of Wisconsin.
Below is a select listing of UW's current athletes who have family ties to the Wisconsin Badgers.
SIBLINGS
Anders and Micah Boyd - Twin brothers Anders and Micah are seniors on the men's rowing team.
Andrew and Caroline Ackley - Andrew is a junior swimmer for the men 's team who competed in the Big Ten Championships last year. His sister, Caroline, is a freshman swimmer for the women's team and holds the North Carolina state record in the 100 freestyle.
Lello and Ebba Gebisa - Senior Lello Gebisa is the tallest player to ever play for Wisconsin at 6-7, while sister 6-3 Ebba is a junior. Last year, Lello averaged 10.0 points per game and led the team with 6.1 rebounds per game while Ebba averaged 7.3 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.
Katie and Sarah Kolpin - Senior Sarah Kolpin is a distance runner/steeplechaser on the UW women's track and cross country teams while her sister Katie, is a sophomore middle distance runner on the track team.
Lindsey and Liza Lewis - Twins Lindsey and Liza Lewis are both freshmen on the UW women's track team. Lindsey is a sprinter and hurdler while Liza is a pole vaulter.
Joe and Pete Monty - Joe is a freshman on the football team. His brother, Pete, is Wisconsin's career tackle leader and was a four-year letterwinner from1993-96..
Christine and Andrea Wanezek - Christine is a freshman free/butterfly swimmer for the Badgers and her sister Andrea swam at Wisconsin from 1998-2002. The Wanezek 's cousin Julia Heinrich is a freshman pole vaulter on the UW women's track team.
Eric and Andrea Wiesner - Eric is a junior swimmer for the men 's team at UW and was a member of the 2003 Big Ten Champion 400 relay team. Eric 's sister, Andrea, is a freshman swimmer at UW and was an All-American in high school.
PARENT-CHILD
Pete and Dean Talafous - Pete, a transfer from Anchorage, Alaska, is a senior forward on the men's hockey team. Pete's father Dean played hockey at Wisconsin from 1971-74 and was a member of the 1973 NCAA Championship team.
Ryan and Bobby Suter - Ryan, a defender and seventh overall pick in the 2003 NHL draft, is a freshman on the men's hockey team. Bobby, Ryan's father, played hockey at Wisconsin from 1975-79 and was a member on the 1980 Olympic gold medal winning hockey team.
Tim and Steve Lacy - Tim is a freshman cross country and track runner for Wisconsin this year. Tim's father, Steve, was a two-time All-American at the UW and an Olympian.
John and Jim Dyreby - John is a senior on the men's rowing team and raced last year in the second varsity eight boat. His father, Jim, rowed for the Badgers and was a member of the 1973 U.S. national team.
Stephen and Eric Skalinder - Stephen is a freshman on the men 's swimming team at UW and was a four time All-American in high school. Eric, Stephen's father, was a swimmer at UW from 1959-62.
Jason and John Palermo - Jason is a sophomore offensive lineman on UW 's football team this year. His father, John, is the assistant head coach and defensive line coach for the Badgers.
Peter Turney Jr. and Peter Turney Sr. - Peter Jr. is a senior on the men's rowing team and raced last year on the men's second varsity eight boat. Peter Sr. was on the UW men's baseball team.
Bryanna and Mike Seifert - Bryanna is a sophomore on the women's openweight rowing team. Her father, Mike, was a starting defensive end for the Badgers football team from 1971-73 and was drafted by the Cleveland Browns. Her uncle, Pat Litscher rowed for UW from 1974-77.
Marla and Kevin Froelich - Marla is a junior forward on the women's soccer team and her father, Kevin, played football at UW, lettering in 1973.
Eva and Roger Payne - Eva is a junior on the women's lightweight crew team while her father, Roger, has been a boatman for the UW for over nine years.
Carolyn and Keith Nosbusch - Carolyn is a sophomore defender on the Badger women's soccer team, while her father, Keith, was a three-year letter winner on the UW football team from 1970-72.
Elly Patterson and Henry Helmoltz - Elly is a senior defender on the women's soccer team. Her great-grandfather Henry Helmolz played basketball for the Badgers and lettered in 1900-02.
