Celebrating Our 2026 Founder's Day Honorees

Founder's Day returned on Sunday, June 28, bringing together alumni, families, staff, and friends for an evening of celebration and recognition. The annual banquet honored individuals and teams whose contributions have left a lasting impact on our schools and community.

Throughout the evening, guests reflected on the people who have strengthened our schools through their commitment to faith, education, athletics, and community while welcoming a new class of honorees into the Distinguished Alumni, Athletic Hall of Fame, Coaches Hall of Fame, and Team Hall of Fame.

This year's Cornerstone Award was presented to Fr. Allan Slowiak in recognition of his lifelong dedication to Catholic education. Throughout more than five decades of priestly ministry, Fr. Slowiak has served as a pastor, chaplain, campus minister, educator, and mentor, leaving a lasting impact on generations of students and helping shape Catholic education throughout central Wisconsin.

The Distinguished Alumni Award recognized three graduates whose lives and careers continue to reflect the values of faith, service, and leadership instilled during their time as Cardinals:

• Bernadette "Bernie" (Sikorski) Baumann, Class of 1957
• Linda (Seidl) Wagner, Class of 1978
• Jeff Gress, Class of 1995

The Athletic Hall of Fame welcomed three outstanding alumni whose accomplishments have left a lasting mark on Newman athletics:

• Jerry Halkoski (Hale), Class of 1968
• Mike Walden, Class of 1980
• Leah (Lemke) Wycklendt, Class of 2006

The Coaches Hall of Fame recognized Paul Michlig, Class of 1996, honoring his dedication to student-athletes and the lasting influence he has had through his years of coaching.

A special highlight of the evening was the inaugural induction of the Team Hall of Fame, celebrating three teams whose stories continue to inspire generations of Cardinals.

The 1952-53 Boys Varsity Basketball Team, known then as the Pioneers, was recognized as the first varsity boys athletic team in school history. Competing at the Youth Center at Marathon Park, these student-athletes helped establish the tradition of teamwork, perseverance, and school pride that continues today.

The 1972-73 Girls Varsity Tennis Team was honored as the school's first varsity girls athletic team. Their determination opened new opportunities for female student-athletes and helped pave the way for the generations of girls who have proudly represented Newman in athletics.

The evening also celebrated one of the most inspiring stories in our athletic history with the induction of the 1991 State Champion Baseball Team.

Just two days before the state championship game, Head Coach Tyrone Kleinhans was tragically killed in a traffic accident while returning home from a coaches meeting. In the midst of unimaginable grief, the team made the decision to continue the season in honor of the coach who had become a mentor, leader, and friend.

Wearing black armbands in Coach Kleinhans' memory, the Cardinals rallied from behind to defeat Beloit Catholic Memorial 9-8 and capture the WISAA Class B State Championship. More than three decades later, their perseverance, resilience, and unity remain one of the defining stories in our athletic tradition.

Congratulations to all of this year's honorees. Thank you for the many ways you have strengthened our community and inspired generations of Cardinals. Your legacy continues to remind us that the values we celebrate today are built through lives of faith, service, leadership, and commitment to others.