Fourteen former coaches, athletes to be inducted into MCAC Hall of Fame

WORTHINGTON Fourteen individuals, including three former Minnesota West Community & Technical College coaches and numerous student athletes, will be inducted into the Minnesota College Athletic Conference Hall of Fame Saturday, during halftime of the Minnesota West men's basketball game.

The team takes on Riverland Community College at 3 p.m.

Saturday in the Center of Health and Wellness on the Minnesota West Community & Technical College Worthington campus.

ADVERTISEMENT The individuals being honored, along with short biographies of each, are included below: Michael Augustine , coach: Between 1989 and 2002, Augustine served as the Bluejays head mens basketball coach, collecting 132 victories in his 13 years.

During the 1996-97 season, Augustine led his team to the NJCAA National Mens Basketball Tournament where the team placed seventh.

En route to their national tournament appearance, Augustines Bluejays claimed the MCCC Division III title and won the NJCAA Region XIII Tournament.

He was also named the MCCC South Mens Basketball Coach of the Year that season.

Augustine also served as an assistant football coach during his time at Minnesota West (formerly Worthington Community College).

He is described as one of the best motivators that Minnesota West has ever had as a coach and that his players knew he would push them to become the best individuals they could be.

Jeff Rogers , coach and student-athlete: Rogers played baseball for Minnesota West (Worthington CC) during the 1986-87 and 1987-88 seasons.

During those two years, he was named first-team All-Southern Division, team captain, and MVP both seasons.

He also collected a 1987 All-Region 13 award and continues to hold the Bluejays baseball records in career batting average with .469, most RBI in a season, and most hits in a career.

After completing his career at Minnesota West, Rogers transferred to the University of Minnesota and North Dakota State University where he earned his BS and MS degrees in agriculture.

He returned to Worthington, eventually teaching for Minnesota West and serving as an assistant baseball coach for five seasons.

Rogers continues to serve as the agriculture instructor at Minnesota West and supports baseball in his community.

Brad Holinka , coach and student-athlete: As a member of the Bluejays football, basketball and track programs during the 1976-77 and 1977-78 academic years, Holinka earned all-division honors in all three sports and was named to the NJCAA All-Region XIII Team in track.

Holinka also was named the team MVP for his teams each year, and he continues to hold school track records in the decathlon, 100-meter sprint, shot put, high jump, discus, 110-meter hurdles, javelin and pole vault.

Holinka transferred to Minnesota State Mankato following the conclusion of his Bluejays career where he continued his football career.

After graduation, he began teaching physical education in the Fulda School District and served as a Bluejays football coach.

Holinka is described as a selfless individual, giving all he can to his athletes, profession and colleagues.

From Coach Holinka, his athletes learned that dedicating to high standards, sacrificing, working hard, and having a strong determination will help them succeed in all they do.

Tiffany (Gehl) Hurst , student-athlete: Gehl Hurst played basketball and volleyball for Minnesota West during the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons.

In those two years, she was a two-time MCAC All-South Division basketball award recipient and a two-time all-state basketball team member.

In 2014, she was named to the All-Region XIII team and earned NJCAA First-Team All-American honors in basketball.

Gehl also earned WBCA All-American honors that season.

She was the all-time leading scorer at Minnesota West until the 2023-24 season and now firmly holds the second-ranked spot in scoring for the Lady Jays.

Sam (Lynn) Voss , student-athlete: As a two-sport athlete for the Lady Jays, Lynn Voss was named MCAC All-South Division during the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons for both basketball and softball.

Lynn also was twice named all-state and all-region in womens basketball.

Following the conclusion of the 2011 season, she was named first team All-American for basketball and currently ranks third in scoring, steals and assists at Minnesota West.

Lynn is described as one of the best players to ever come through the Lady Jay womens basketball program.

Jimmy Dekker , student-athlete: As a mens basketball player for the Bluejays from 1999-2001, Dekker led the MCCC in scoring with 21.4 points per game in the 2000-01 season and ranked eighth in the NJCAA Division III in scoring that year as well.

The two-time All-Region XIII, All-MCCC, and All-South Division hoopster earned NJCAA First Team All-American honors before completing his Bluejays career.

Shooting 51.4% from behind the three-point arc and averaging seven rebounds per game, Dekker was the leading vote-getter in the All-MCCC and All-Region XIII selections, and he also earned the All-Academic Award in both seasons.

Dekker was considered the heart and soul of his teams, and he consistently improved the team and himself.

ADVERTISEMENT Justin Lorang , student-athlete: Lorang competed for the Bluejays in mens basketball during the 1999-2000 and 2000-01 seasons.

He ranks third all-time in scoring for Minnesota West and was a two-time MCCC All-South Division athlete.

In addition, Lorang was named to the MCCC All-State and All-Region 13 teams in both years of competition.

His leadership and dedication to his team helped him be selected as a team captain.

Lorang earned the all-academic award while a student at Minnesota West, and after finishing his basketball playing career in the Bluejays jersey, he transferred to the University of Minnesota to compete as a Gopher.

Bob Madsen , student-athlete: Leading the Bluejays basketball team in scoring and assists during the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons, Madsen continually competed at a high level.

He was named to the MCCC All-South Division team and the NJCAA All-Academic team.

His defensive prowess helped him become the Bluejays team MVP, and following his basketball career at Minnesota West, he finished his collegiate career at the University of Minnesota-Morris.

His coach described him as an excellent student, a great teammate, and a pleasure to coach.

Ronnie Gasca , student-athlete: During the 1995-96 and 1996-97 seasons, Gasca competed for Minnesota West in mens basketball and was named to the MCCC All-South Division team during those seasons.

As the glue of his team, Gasca led his Bluejays to an MCCC championship and NJCAA National Tournament appearance.

In the conference championship game, he made 13 straight free throws.

His coach stated that Gasca was an unselfish player who always put the team first.

He guarded the opponents best guard and was very personable a classic junior college player.

Brendan Nagle , student-athlete: Nagel played basketball for the Bluejays in 1993-94 and 1994-95, and during that time he earned All-South Division honors.

Nagel was a consistent rebounder and excellent scorer, starting both seasons after being highly recruited in high school.

Nagel currently works as an elementary school teacher.

Nate "Boots" LeBoutillier , student-athlete: LeBoutillier played basketball for Minnesota West for one season, 1996-97.

He was a high-impact player who raised the competition of Bluejays basketball and made the team better because of his intensity.

He played an integral part in his teams qualification for the Elite 8 of the NJCAA National Tournament in 1997.

LeBoutillier was described as a great teammate and an outstanding young man.

He is currently a teacher and musician.

John Porth , student-athlete: Instrumental in the Bluejays MCCC Southern Division championship, Porth was the leading rebounder and an excellent defender for the Minnesota West basketball team in the 1991-92 and 1992-93 seasons.

He was described as an unselfish teammate with a great work ethic who helped build a successful program.

Porth currently is a resort owner.

Heath Rasche , student-athlete: Averaging 12 rebounds per game during his two-year (1992-94) basketball career, Rasche was a high-level recruit for the Bluejays, as well as other colleges.

He was an excellent player who was also a great teammate, and he helped bring other recruits to Minnesota West.

Rasches coach described him as a class act who was personable and a great friend.

ADVERTISEMENT Aaron Wiltrout , student-athlete: Wiltrout competed as a Bluejays basketball player during the 1994-95 and 1995-96 seasons.

He was an excellent scorer, defender and leader who helped hold his team together.

Wiltrout could play any position at a high level.

His coach said Wiltrout was one of the most versatile players he ever coached.

Currently, Wiltrout is a high school teacher and coach..

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