Christian Sopkowiak/Winonan

In the Integrated Wellness Complex, there lies a testament to our past and a lesson for our future.

Eric Schoh, the current Athletic Director at Winona State University said, “I know they [Winona State University] wanted to create a Hall of Fame display so that they could recognize past Warriors sports teams and their accomplishments.”

“You have to do something really special to get put there. National Championship, Regionals, that kind of stuff,” Schoh said.

The display Schoh mentioned is the Hall of Fame display that is located across from the Well in the Integrated Wellness Complex.

“It’s really impressive, I think, when recruits come on campus. Whether its athletics or admissions, it’s a pretty impressive area. The layout and vision for that area, the credit for that goes to Larry Holstad,” Schoh said.

The Hall of Fame display was the former Athletic Director Larry Holstad’s project. Holstad held the position for 15 years.

“We created to display to preserve athletic history of the university and honor those that made that history,” Holstad said. “It is something most schools have and our Athletics Department saw the opportunity to make ours special.”

The Hall of Fame display consists of pictures, props and interactive kiosks that all chronicle the history of successful Warrior teams.

“Along with everything else, I think that the graphics, the quotes that are on the wall are really unique. That’s something that people can see as they walk by. While there are impressive awards in the display, some people don’t have time to stop. They (the quotes) are very eye-catching along those three walls,” Schoh said.

The display consists of national champions, All-Americans and inspiring stories. Holstad and Schoh said that each story has something that they can teach to athletes, students and adults.

“It is important to remember your history and your traditions and the people that got you to where you are today, and the display is a neat place to do that,” Schoh said. “And when the athletes come back, they see that they are remembered and appreciated for their accomplishments and their efforts.”

Learning from the past and looking to the future are important to both of these men.

“It is an example of why one can never forget the past as that is the foundation of the future,” Holstad said.

Before his tenure as the Athletic Director at Winona State is up, Schoh has one request for the athletes at Winona State.

“We hope that we run out of space in there. That is our goal.”

Contact Christian at [email protected]