Northern_Today_Fall_2020

NORTHERN TODAY 17 FALL 2020 AMANDA (MADDEN) MAHLKE graduated in 2010 with a B.A. in Art with specializations in Multimedia Graphic Design and Advertising Design. Mahlke participated in Wolves track and field from 2006 to 2010. She earned nine All-NSIC honors, five NCAA All-American honors, three USTFCCCA Division II Scholar All-Academic honors, and three NSU Track and Field MVP honors. She was NSU’s first track and field 2-time NCAA National Champion (weight throw and hammer throw), and is the school record holder in both events. Mahlke was the 2010 NSU Hildred Wolfe Outstanding Athlete of the Year, ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District team honoree; and United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association’s Outdoor Field Scholar Athlete of the Year. In 2017, Mahlke was named one of the NSIC top-25 female student-athletes from the past 25 years. Upon her graduation, Mahlke tallied the seventh best throw in the history of the NCAA in the hammer. She lives in Aberdeen and works as a Graphic Designer for the Northern State University Communications and Marketing Department. Mahlke and her husband, Cody, have two children, Gemma and Harrison. NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY | Alumni AMANDA (MADDEN) MAHLKE KEVIN RATZSCH BRENDA FULLER JIM FULLER KEV I N R AT Z SCH graduated in 2009 with a B.S. in Physical Education. He was a member of the men’s basketball team from 2005 to 2009. Ratzsch left his mark on the career record books, ranking eight all-time in career points, with 1,852, and 10th all-time in career rebounds, with 693. Ratzsch remains Northern’s record holder for single season free throw percentage, going 55-of-59 from the line (93.2 percent) in 2007-08. In addition, he ranks in the top-5 all-time in career free throw percentage and 3-point field goal percentage, and top-10 in field goal percentage. Ratzsch was a three-time NSIC All-Conference selection and the 2008-09 Northern Sun Offensive Player of the Year. He earned NCAA All-American status in his senior season and was honored as the Northern State Clark Swisher recipient. BRENDA AND J IM FUL L ER coached at Northern State University for 24 years, coaching several championship teams and All- American student-athletes. J IM FUL L ER was Head Coach of the NSU track and field team from 1988 to 2012, and Head Coach of the cross country team from 1988 to 2003. He coached athletes to 54 NAIA/ NCAA Division II All-Americans Awards (36-NAIA/18-NCAA II); coached 815 NSIC All-Conference selections (217 student- athletes); and coached 30 student-athletes who earned 51 USTFCCCA All-Academic Awards. He led 41 teams that earned National (NAIA or NCAA Division II) Team Academic Awards. Fuller worked with 15 student- athletes who earned 27 NSIC MVP Awards, and coached six NSIC Championship teams and 43 NSIC Runner-up teams. He was named NSIC Coach of the Year 11 times (six for track and field, five for cross country); coached 19 members of the NSU Athletics Hall of Fame; and served as President and Vice President of the NCAA Division II Cross Country Coaches Association. BRENDA FUL L ER was the Head Assistant Coach for NSU track and field from 1988 to 2012. She was named USTFCCCA NCAA Division II Central Region Assistant Coach of the Year in 2009. Fuller directed student- athletes to 12 NAIA/NCAA Division II All-American honors (2-NAIA and 10-NCAA II), 23 NAIA/NCAA Division II USTFCCCA All-Academic Awards, and four NSIC MVP Awards. In addition, her student-athletes won 74 NSIC Championships in the shot put (32 individual champions), discus (17 individual champions), javelin (15 individual champions), and the hammer/weight throw (10 individual champions). She coached five NSU Hall of Fame members (throwers) and was a clinician for both the South Dakota High School Activities Association and Nebraska High School Activities Association. The Fullers now both work at Iowa Central College, where Jim is Associate Head Track and Field Coach, and Brenda is Assistant Track and Field Coach. They have three children: Tyler, Aaron, and Drew; and two grandchildren: Madison Rae, 3, and Mackenzie Jo, 2. KRETCHMAN COACHING RECIPIENTS