DECC Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner Join us as we celebrate the Class of 2026 at the 29th DECC Athletic Hall of Fame banquet. 2026 INDUCTEES Recent discussion has produced the following five selected and agreed upon unanimous inductees: Jolene Anderson One of the most decorated prep basketball players in the Northland, Anderson set the Wisconsin record for career scoring while playing at South Shore High School. She followed that up with a stellar career at the University of Wisconsin as the most prolific scorer in the program’s history. Anderson was drafted in the second round of the 2008 WNBA Draft by the Connecticut Sun. After playing a year in the WNBA, Anderson continued her professional career with stops in France, Turkey, Poland, Italy, Spain, Australia and Mexico. C.J. Ham Ham recently completed a nine-year NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings that was highlighted by two Pro Bowl selections and representing the team as their Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee in 2024 and 2025. Ham played 141 games for the Vikings and scored eight touchdowns (six rushing and two receiving) as a fullback. The Duluth native was a stellar student-athlete at Denfeld High School and played collegiately at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Bob Magie Magie excelled at hockey, curling and golf, and grew up on the rinks of Glen Avon Hockey and the Duluth Curling Club as well as the fairways of Ridgeview Country Club. As an attorney, Magie has been instrumental in fostering the legal relationship between the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center and Duluth Curling Club from 1970 on, including the initial funding for Pioneer Hall and negotiating and drafting naming rights agreements for AMSOIL Arena. Lisa Malosky Malosky lettered in basketball, swimming, track and badminton at Duluth Central High School and later built a career as a sports journalist and television host. As a woman in sports broadcasting, Malosky helped pave the way for others in a traditionally male-dominated field. She was a member of the first all-female broadcasting team when the WNBA was formed, and gained even wider recognition as co-host of the television competition show “American Gladiators.” Phil Verchota Verchota won a gold medal playing on the famed “Miracle on Ice” U.S. men’s hockey team in the 1980 Winter Olympics, and he was captain of the squad in the 1984 Games. The Duluth East standout was recruited to the University of Minnesota for both football and hockey, but he opted to focus on hockey, which paid off in playing on two national championship-winning teams under head coach Herb Brooks in 1976 and 1979. All selected inductees have been notified of their selection and will be in attendance for the event. SCHEDULE 6:00pm | Social Hour 7:00pm – 8:30pm | Dinner and Award Presentation FOOD & DRINK Marry Me Chicken or Roasted Butternut Squash Plank with Minnesota Wild Rice, Garden Salad, and White Chocolate Raspberry Cream Shortcake for dessert. Cash bar will be available. This event will celebrate five individuals who have gained national prominence in sports and have connections to NE Minnesota or NW Wisconsin. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Montgomery Sports Foundation, which helps provide financial assistance to make sports available to more youth in our region. Learn more about the Montgomery Sports Foundation here: montgomerysf.org
