WAVERLY, Iowa-- Eight individuals will be inducted into the Wartburg Athletic Hall of Fame this weekend as part of the Homecoming weekend festivities.

Elgin Allen ’48 — Allen played quarterback for the Knights football team and started every game his freshman year before entering the Navy in 1943. After three years of military service, Allen returned to Wartburg in 1946 and started every game at quarterback for the next two years. He also played defensive back. Allen's career in education included service as a teacher, coach, superintendent, and principal. He was principal of Algona High School for 28 years before his retirement. He still resides in Algona and has been heavily involved in the Kiwanis Club as a club president and lieutenant governor of the Nebraska/Iowa division.

Darren Bohlen ’91 — Bohlen was a four-year member of the football team and a two-time All-Conference selection at running back. He was the first back in school history to achieve consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons and set the single-season rushing record of 1,413 yards in 1990. A two-time team MVP, he was part of the class that helped rebuild the Wartburg football program. Bohlen has taught business and physical education at Charles City High School since 1998. He resides in Clarksville and serves on the board of directors for Clarksville Area Recreational Development.

Michael Doyle ’95 — Doyle compiled a record of 81-33 during four years on the Wartburg wrestling team. He was a three-time NCAA All-American and Iowa Conference champion and a two-time academic All-American. He lives in Independence, where he teaches high school mathematics and coaches wrestling at Independence High School.

Lowell Kuecker ’75 — Kuecker was a four-year letterman on the wrestling team and the first Wartburg wrestler to win 100 matches. He was a four-time national qualifier and an All-American in 1975. A two-time Iowa Conference champion at 190 lbs. and a two-time conference runner-up, he was named MVP of the 1974 conference champions and team captain in 1975. Kuecker earned his master’s degree from Northwest Missouri State. He taught for 35 years in Iowa, including two years at Algona and 33 years as a middle school English teacher in the Denver Community Schools. He coached high school wrestling for 18 years and middle school football for 26 years. He now lives in Buckeye, Ariz., where he teaches in Liberty Elementary School District #25.

Bob Olson ’69 — Olson lettered in football all four years. He climaxed his Wartburg football career as part of the 1968 Iowa Conference championship team in his senior year, when he earned first-team All-Conference and All-American honors at offensive tackle. Bob completed a master’s degree in biology and spent five years as a biology teacher and coach. He has been a corn and soybean producer in Clarion since 1974. His leadership in the community includes service as a Clarion school board member, vice president of the Wright County Pork Producers, chairman of the board of trustees at his church, church choir member, and Rotary Club member.

Chris Shannon ’98 — Shannon was a two-sport standout in track and field and football. He was a 1997 All-American in outdoor track, placing seventh in the 4x400-meter relay, and a 1996 All-American in indoor track, placing fourth in the 55-meter hurdles. Shannon was a two-time All-Conference selection and two-time conference champion in the triple jump and 110-meter hurdles. He was MVP of the 1995 Iowa Conference meet, a two-time team MVP, and was named Midwest Regional Athlete of the Year. In football, he was a four-year letterman with 10 touchdown catches and 1,375 reception yards. Shannon now works as a claims specialist and resides in Readlyn.

Ryan Rausch ’01 — Rausch excelled in football and led the league in scoring as a member of the 1999 Iowa Conference championship team. He was a two-time All-Conference selection, earned three first-team All-West region honors, and was named to the Lutheran Brotherhood and Don Hansen’s Football Gazette All-American teams. He served as team captain in his senior season and was selected as team MVP as a sophomore. He capped his Wartburg football career with an invitation to play in the Aztec Bowl, the Division III all-star game. Rausch continues to hold the single-game, season, and career records in touchdown receptions as well as the record for career receiving yards. He is a financial adviser in New Hampton.

Matt Wheeler ’00 — Wheeler played football and basketball for the Knights. As a three-year starting quarterback, he was twice named first-team All-Conference, including his designation as conference MVP during his senior season. That same year, he was selected to join other Division III all-stars playing in the Aztec Bowl. Wheeler continues to hold Wartburg records for single-game, season, and career touchdown passes. On the basketball court, he was a three-year letterwinner and finished with a career field-goal percentage of 57.5 and free-throw percentage of 72.1. He returned to Waverly last April to accept a position as offensive coordinator for the Wartburg football team.